The State Department has announced that the United States will withdraw from the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
A press conference confirmed its withdrawal, saying the US notified UNESCO Director Audrey Azurey of the decision on Tuesday morning.
According to the State Department, being part of an organization is “not in the US’s national interest.”
“UNESCO works to promote divisive social and cultural causes, focusing on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, globalists for international development that opposes America’s primary foreign policy, and ideological agenda,” State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce said in a press statement. “UNESCO’s decision to recognize the ‘Palestine’ as a member state was highly problematic and, contrary to US policies, helped spread anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization. ”
On April 12, 2024, the headquarters of UNESCO, the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organizations, in Paris, France. The flag of the state that is part of the UNESCO Association. (Photo: Riccardo Milani / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas by via AFP)
“The continued participation of the US in international organizations will focus on advancing American interests with clarity and belief,” the statement continued.
This withdrawal is the latest in America’s complicated relationship with UNESCO. In 2011, the United States recognized Palestine as a full member, causing US laws that halted funding to organisations and required the country to cut funding to UN agencies that recognize the Palestinian state.
These cuts were reported to have taken away almost a fifth of the budget by UNESCO.
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In 2017, the Trump administration went further, announcing a complete withdrawal due to alleged anti-Israel bias. However, the Biden administration overturned that decision in 2023 and rejoined the organization.
According to the State Department, the current US withdrawal of UNESCO will officially come into effect on December 31, 2026. The United States will remain fully members until that day.
The UNESCO website describes the organization as promoting education, science, cultural and communication cooperation to promote peace around the world. UNESCO is well known for designating more than 1,200 World Heritage Sites across the globe.
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