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Indian Express
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
US pulls out of UNESCO again. A look at the rocky ties tracing back to Raegan, with Israel at heart
The United States has once again withdrawn from UNESCO, reigniting a decades-old pattern of disengagement with the United Nations' cultural agency. This time, the trigger is familiar: the organisation's recognition of Palestine as a member state. Calling UNESCO's direction 'divisive' and 'ideological', the US Department of State said the body no longer aligns with American interests. 'Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States,' said spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, accusing the agency of pushing a globalist agenda through its focus on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The final straw, she added, was the inclusion of Palestine, which the US says fuels anti-Israel rhetoric within the organisation. It's a move that marks yet another chapter in the US's fraught history with UNESCO, one that has been marked by multiple withdrawals, funding freezes, and political posturing. The tensions go back as far as 1984, when the Ronald Reagan administration first pulled out, citing corruption, mismanagement, and a perceived pro-Soviet bias. The US eventually rejoined under George W Bush in 2003, only to slash funding again in 2011 under Barack Obama — ironically, over the same issue of Palestine's membership. The second withdrawal of the US in 2018 was again citing anti-Israel bias. Along with the US, Israel had completely stopped funding the organisation after it voted for membership of Palestine. The fund cut had deprived UNESCO of nearly a fifth of its budget, forcing it to slash programs. In 2023, after Joe Biden took over US presidency, the nation rejoined UNESCO after citing concerns that China was filling the gap left by the US in the agency's policymaking. Now, with Washington turning its back yet again, UNESCO faces fresh questions about funding and relevance, especially at a time when it's playing a key role in war-hit regions like Gaza. UNESCO has been supporting displaced children and families, helping them cope with the trauma they have been going through. According to UNESCO's website, as many as 1,580 displaced children have received aid through UNESCO's mental health and psychosocial support activities in shelters across Khan Younis and Rafah in the Southern Gaza Strip since the war broke out. Apart from that, 810 caregivers have taken part in psychosocial support workshops, boosting their ability to provide aid to both themselves and the children in their care. Palestine, a member state Palestine was added as a member state of the agency after 107 members voted in favour of it to 14 against, with 52 abstentions during UNESCO's General Conference in 2011. Anticipating dissent from the US, UNESCO then Director-General Irina Bokova had raised concern that funding from the largest contributor may be jeopardized. Bokov was quoted as saying in a statement by UNSECO: 'I am worried we may confront a situation that could erode UNESCO as a universal platform for dialogue. I am worried for the stability of its budget. 'It is well-known that funding from our largest contributor, the United States, may be jeopardized,' she noted. 'I believe it is the responsibility of all of us to make sure that UNESCO does not suffer unduly as a result….' 'UNESCO's work is too important to be jeopardised,' she said.
Al Etihad
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Etihad
US to leave UN cultural body, citing 'national interest'
PARIS (AFP) The United States said Tuesday it would quit UNESCO, saying the UN cultural and education agency, best known for establishing world heritage sites, is biased and promotes 'divisive' causes. "Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States,' State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said. UNESCO called the US departure -- which it said will take effect in December 2026 -- regrettable, but unsurprising, and said its financial impact would be limited. President Donald Trump had already ordered withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization once before, in 2017 during his first term. President Joe Biden then reestablished US membership. 'I deeply regret President Donald Trump's decision to once again withdraw the United States of America from UNESCO," Director-General Audrey Azoulay said, adding the move contradicted fundamental principles of multilateralism. The US share of UNESCO's total budget currently stands at eight percent, she added. The UN organisation describes its mission as promoting education, scientific cooperation and cultural understanding. It oversees a list of heritage sites aimed at preserving unique environmental and architectural gems, ranging from Australia's Great Barrier Reef and the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Athens Acropolis and Pyramids of Egypt. Trump was not the first to pull the United States out of UNESCO. President Ronald Reagan ended US membership in the 1980s, saying the agency was corrupt and pro-Soviet. The United States reentered under the presidency of George W. Bush.
Roya News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
US announces leaving UN cultural body UNESCO
The United States on Tuesday announced it has left UNESCO, saying the UN cultural and education agency, best known for establishing world heritage sites, is biased against 'Israel' and promotes "divisive" causes. "Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States," the State Department spokeswoman said. The US exit was expected under President Donald Trump, who also ordered withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2017 during his first term. President Joe Biden then reestablished US membership. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce described UNESCO as working "to advance divisive social and cultural causes" and being overly focused on UN sustainability goals, which she described as a "globalist, ideological agenda." Bruce also highlighted what she said was the body's anti-'Israeli' position in admitting Palestine as a state. "UNESCO's decision to admit the 'State of Palestine' as a member state is highly problematic, contrary to US policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-'Israel' rhetoric within the organization," Bruce said. The UN organization describes its mission as promoting education, scientific cooperation and cultural understanding. It oversees a list of heritage sites aimed at preserving unique environmental and architectural gems, ranging from the Great Barrier Reef off Australia and the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Athens Acropolis and Pyramids of Egypt. Trump was not the first to pull the United States out of UNESCO. President Ronald Reagan ended US membership in the 1980s, saying the agency was corrupt and pro-Soviet. The United States reentered under the presidency of George W. Bush.
NDTV
22-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"Not In National Interest": US Leaves UN Cultural Body UNESCO
The United States on Tuesday announced it has left UNESCO, saying the UN cultural and education agency, best known for establishing world heritage sites, is biased against Israel and promotes "divisive" causes. "Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States," the State Department spokeswoman said. The US exit was expected under President Donald Trump, who also ordered withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2017 during his first term. President Joe Biden then reestablished US membership. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce described UNESCO as working "to advance divisive social and cultural causes" and being overly focused on UN sustainability goals, which she described as a "globalist, ideological agenda." Bruce also highlighted what she said was the body's anti-Israeli position in admitting Palestine as a state. "UNESCO's decision to admit the 'State of Palestine' as a member state is highly problematic, contrary to US policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization," Bruce said. The UN organization describes its mission as promoting education, scientific cooperation and cultural understanding. It oversees a list of heritage sites aimed at preserving unique environmental and architectural gems, ranging from the Great Barrier Reef off Australia and the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Athens Acropolis and Pyramids of Egypt. Trump was not the first to pull the United States out of UNESCO. President Ronald Reagan ended US membership in the 1980s, saying the agency was corrupt and pro-Soviet. The United States reentered under the presidency of George W. Bush.
LeMonde
22-07-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
US announces leaving UN cultural body UNESCO
The United States on Tuesday, July 22, announced it has left UNESCO, saying the UN cultural and education agency, best known for establishing world heritage sites, is biased against Israel and promotes "divisive" causes. "Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States," the State Department spokeswoman said. The US exit was expected under President Donald Trump, who also ordered withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2017 during his first term. President Joe Biden then reestablished US membership. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce described UNESCO as working "to advance divisive social and cultural causes" and being overly focused on UN sustainability goals, which she described as a "globalist, ideological agenda." Bruce also highlighted what she said was the body's anti-Israeli position in admitting Palestine as a state. "UNESCO's decision to admit the 'State of Palestine' as a member state is highly problematic, contrary to US policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization," Bruce said. UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay said on Tuesday, "I deeply regret President Donald Trump's decision to once again withdraw the United States of America from UNESCO. However regrettable, this announcement was expected, and UNESCO has prepared for it." The UN organization describes its mission as promoting education, scientific cooperation and cultural understanding. It oversees a list of heritage sites aimed at preserving unique environmental and architectural gems, ranging from the Great Barrier Reef off Australia and the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Athens Acropolis and Pyramids of Egypt. Trump was not the first to pull the US out of UNESCO. President Ronald Reagan ended US membership in the 1980s, saying the agency was corrupt and pro-Soviet. The US reentered under the presidency of George W. Bush.
