LIVE UPDATES
In a significant shift in foreign policy, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday to withdraw the United States from multiple United Nations agencies.
These include the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
The executive order also mandated a review of U.S. contributions to the UN, citing concerns over what the White House characterized as “anti-American bias.”
The executive order officially terminates U.S. membership in the UNHRC, a 47-nation panel tasked with assessing global human rights conditions and probing alleged abuses.
The U.S.'s last term on the council concluded on December 31, 2024, leaving it with only observer status prior to this withdrawal.
The U.S. also formally exited UNRWA, the primary aid organization for Palestinian refugees, which has played a crucial role in humanitarian efforts in Gaza and surrounding areas.
Additionally, the Trump administration announced it would review the country’s participation in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), an organization the U.S. had previously left during Trump's first term but later rejoined under President Joe Biden.
Justifying the decision, White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf stated that the action was a response to the “striking disparities” in U.S. financial contributions to the UN compared to those of other nations.
“It should be funded by everyone, but we always seem to bear a disproportionate burden,” Trump remarked.
Trump has been a long-time critic of U.S. financial commitments to international organizations, often contending that other nations should contribute more. Similar concerns prompted him to advocate for changes in NATO funding during his first term.
This move aligns with Israel’s enduring opposition to UNRWA, which it accuses of disseminating anti-Israel propaganda and having ties to Hamas.
The Biden administration suspended U.S. funding to UNRWA in January 2024 after Israel alleged that 12 UNRWA employees were linked to Hamas’s assault on October 7, 2023.
While independent investigations identified some issues regarding neutrality within UNRWA, they did not substantiate Israel’s main claims. Many Western countries resumed funding, but under Trump, Washington has now completely severed its connections.
Trump’s exit from UN agencies is not unprecedented. During his first term (2017–2021), he withdrew the U.S. from:
– The Paris Climate Accord
– The World Health Organization (WHO)
– The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) (which Biden later rejoined)
– The Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA)
Now, in his latest term, Trump seems to be reinforcing his America First foreign policy stance.
