U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Washington would withdraw from dozens of international and United Nations bodies, including a major climate agreement and a U.N. agency focused on gender equality and women’s empowerment, arguing that they operate against U.S. national interests.
In a memo sent to senior administration officials, Trump listed 35 non-U.N. organisations and 31 U.N. entities slated for withdrawal. Among them is the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), widely regarded as the cornerstone global climate treaty and the parent agreement of the 2015 Paris climate accord. The United States skipped last year’s U.N. climate summit for the first time in 30 years.
“The United States would be the first country to leave the UNFCCC,” said Manish Bapna, president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council. He noted that all other nations remain members partly because participation allows them to influence major economic policy decisions and opportunities, beyond the moral imperative of addressing climate change.
The U.S. will also withdraw from UN Women, which promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment, and the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), which supports family planning and maternal and child health programmes in more than 150 countries. Washington had already cut funding to UNFPA last year.
“For United Nations entities, withdrawal means ending participation in or funding for those bodies to the extent permitted by law,” the memo said. Trump has already significantly reduced voluntary U.S. contributions to most U.N. agencies.
A spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump’s decision reflects his long-standing skepticism toward multilateral institutions, particularly the United Nations. He has frequently criticised international organisations for their cost, effectiveness and accountability, arguing that they do not adequately serve U.S. interests.
Since the start of his second term a year ago, Trump has moved to cut U.S. funding for the U.N., withdrawn from the U.N. Human Rights Council, extended a freeze on funding for the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, and exited UNESCO. He has also announced plans to leave the World Health Organization and the Paris climate agreement.
Other organisations listed for withdrawal include the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development, the International Energy Forum, the U.N. Register of Conventional Arms and the U.N. Peacebuilding Commission.
The White House said the targeted organisations promote “radical climate policies, global governance, and ideological programmes” that conflict with U.S. sovereignty and economic strength. It added that the move is part of a broader review of all international intergovernmental organisations, conventions and treaties.
“These withdrawals will end U.S. taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that prioritise globalist agendas over American interests or address key issues inefficiently,” the White House said, adding that funds would be better allocated to other missions aligned with U.S. priorities.
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