FRANCE, ISRAEL RESPOND
French President Emmanuel Macron voiced support for the agency in a post on X: “Unwavering support for UNESCO, universal protector of science, the ocean, education, culture, and world heritage. The withdrawal of the United States will not weaken our commitment to those who are fighting this battle.”
Israel welcomed the US move. The State Department said Washington’s decision was partly due to UNESCO’s 2011 admission of Palestine as a member state, calling it contrary to US policy and a driver of “anti-Israel rhetoric” in the agency.
UNESCO officials countered that all agency statements over the past eight years had been coordinated with both Israel and the Palestinians.
Azoulay said the rationale for withdrawal was largely unchanged from 2018, even though “political tensions have receded” and the organisation now offered a “rare forum for consensus” on action-oriented multilateralism.
She also rejected claims of anti-Israel bias, citing UNESCO’s work on Holocaust education and combating antisemitism.
REPEATED EXIT
The move marks the second time Trump has withdrawn the US from UNESCO, having done so in 2017 over similar concerns. That decision was reversed by Biden in 2023, who restored funding and committed to clearing arrears.
During his first term, Trump also pulled the US out of the World Health Organization, the UN Human Rights Council, and the Paris climate accord, all of which were rejoined by Biden. Many of those exits have since been reinstated under Trump’s second term.
Diplomats told Reuters the latest exit was widely expected at UNESCO due to Trump’s prior stance and Republican objections to agency policies.
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was established in 1945 to promote peace and cooperation. It is best known for its designation of World Heritage Sites, such as the Grand Canyon in the US and Syria’s ancient city of Palmyra.
The US first withdrew in 1984 under then-President Ronald Reagan, citing financial mismanagement and anti-American bias. It rejoined in 2003 under George W. Bush.
