US Withdraws from Dozens of International Bodies
Washington announces withdrawal from 66 international bodies, many under the UN, in a move critics say accelerates US isolation and undermines global cooperation.
United States, PUREWILAYAH.COM — The United States has announced its withdrawal from dozens of international organizations, including major United Nations bodies and global forums, in a sweeping move that reflects the Trump administration’s deepening hostility toward multilateralism and global governance.
According to a White House statement released Thursday, President Donald Trump signed a memorandum suspending US participation and funding for 66 international organizations, agencies, and commissions, arguing that they no longer serve American “national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty.”
Nearly half of the targeted bodies are UN-affiliated, underscoring Washington’s accelerating retreat from international cooperation.
Broad Assault on Multilateral Institutions
Among the organizations affected are the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the central platform for global climate negotiations, as well as UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), both key institutions addressing gender equality, population, and social development.
Several influential non-UN bodies were also targeted, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)—the Nobel Peace Prize–winning authority on climate science—the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Global Counterterrorism Forum.
The White House justified the withdrawals by claiming these institutions promote “globalist agendas,” “radical climate policies,” and “ideological programs” allegedly at odds with US sovereignty and economic interests.
Trump’s Unilateralism Doctrine
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio openly endorsed the decision, accusing international organizations of attempting to “constrain American sovereignty.”
“Trump is clear: no more sending American taxpayers’ money abroad with little to show for it,” Rubio said, adding that Washington would continue reassessing its commitments to other global forums.
The move reflects a broader pattern under Trump’s leadership, where international engagement is reframed as a threat rather than a necessity, and domination is repackaged as “sovereignty.”
Critics Warn of Isolation and Global Damage
The decision drew sharp criticism from scientists, policy experts, and former officials, who warned it would further destabilize global cooperation.
Rachel Cleetus, senior policy director at the Union of Concerned Scientists, described the move as a “new low,” accusing the Trump administration of being “authoritarian” and “anti-science,” and of deliberately undermining collective responses to global crises.
Former White House climate adviser Gina McCarthy called the withdrawal from UN climate processes “shortsighted, embarrassing, and foolish,” stressing that climate change cannot be addressed through unilateralism.
Part of a Larger Pattern of Withdrawal
The latest exits follow Trump’s earlier withdrawals from the Paris Climate Agreement, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNESCO, and the suspension of funding for several UN agencies, including UNRWA, which provides aid to Palestinian refugees.
Last year, a group of Republican lawmakers even proposed a full US withdrawal from the United Nations, accusing the organization of betraying American interests. While Trump has repeatedly attacked the UN, he has yet to formally announce a complete exit.
Nevertheless, the latest decision reinforces Washington’s trajectory toward isolation, signaling an open rejection of shared global responsibility in favor of unilateral power and political coercion. (PW)