U.S. Says It Will Leave UNESCO Again by 2026
(MENAFN) In a move echoing past departures, the United States on Tuesday announced it will withdraw from UNESCO for the third time, effective December 31, 2026. The decision was driven by the organization’s inclusion of Palestine as a member state and ongoing tensions with policies aligned with President Donald Trump’s "America First" doctrine.
“Today, the United States informed Director-General Audrey Azoulay of the United States’ decision to withdraw from UNESCO," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed in a statement.
Bruce emphasized that continued U.S. membership in the Paris-based agency “is not in the national interest” of the United States.
Criticism of UNESCO’s Direction
Bruce accused UNESCO of promoting “divisive social and cultural causes” and advancing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, calling them part of a “globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy.”
She also criticized the agency’s 2011 move to grant full membership to Palestine, calling it “highly problematic, contrary to US policy,” and claiming it has fueled “anti-Israel” rhetoric within the organization.
Historical Pattern of Withdrawal
This marks the third time Washington has pulled out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The Trump administration previously exited in 2018, citing what it called persistent “anti-Israel bias” and poor management. An earlier withdrawal occurred in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan, who raised concerns about excessive politicization and ideological slant within the agency.
The U.S. had only recently rejoined the organization in 2023 under former President Joe Biden, becoming its 194th member state.
Looking ahead, Bruce stated that U.S. participation in international institutions will prioritize “advancing American interests with clarity and conviction.”
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