Why the U.S. Is Leaving
The Trump administration has framed the moves as part of its “America First” foreign policy, arguing that many global institutions promote agendas contrary to U.S. priorities or represent inefficient uses of taxpayer dollars. Officials have criticized organizations involved in climate policy, global governance, migration, labor and other areas they view as “ideological” or overreaching. (The Washington Post)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other administration leaders have described it as restoring U.S. sovereignty and independence on the world stage. (The Washington Post)
List of the Organizations the U.S. Is Exiting
The full list includes 31 United Nations entities and 35 non-UN international organizations. Below are highlights of many of these groups — covering a wide range of global functions.
31 United Nations-Affiliated Entities
Among the UN bodies from which the U.S. is withdrawing are:
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) regional commissions for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, and Western Asia
International Law Commission
International Trade Centre
Office of the Special Adviser on Africa
Special Representatives offices for Children in Armed Conflict; Sexual Violence in Conflict; Violence Against Children
Peacebuilding Commission and Peacebuilding Fund
Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
UN Alliance of Civilizations
UN Climate and Environmentrelated entities — including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a treaty-based body underpinning global climate negotiations and the Paris Agreement framework
UN Democracy Fund
UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
UN Energy, UN Water, UN Human Settlements Programme
UN Institute for Training and Research
UN Oceans
UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination
UN System Staff College
UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
UN Register of Conventional Arms (Al Jazeera)
These entities cover economic development, conflict prevention, gender equality, population health, climate cooperation and more. (Al Jazeera)
35 Non-UN International Organizations
The United States is also exiting a broad set of other international institutions, including:
24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact
Colombo Plan Council — a regional cooperative for development
Commission for Environmental Cooperation
Education Cannot Wait — a global fund for education in crises
European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats
Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories
Freedom Online Coalition — digital rights group
Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund
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