ALWAGHT- The US has decided to exit UNESCO once again due to the body’s decision to include Palestine as a member.
The White House announced that the United States will withdraw from UNESCO, citing the organization’s support for initiatives seen as conflicting with US interests. Officials criticized UNESCO for promoting what they described as divisive cultural and social agendas and opposed its decision to admit Palestine as a member state, which they claim fuels anti-Israel rhetoric. The move aligns with the “America First” foreign policy and reflects longstanding US concerns about UNESCO’s globalist approach.
UNESCO’s Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed regret over the decision but noted it was expected, emphasizing that the organization has prepared by diversifying its funding sources, with Washington contributing only about 8% of the budget. The US withdrawal, scheduled to take effect at the end of 2026, marks another chapter in a history of US exits and reentries to UNESCO, which was originally established to promote peace through education, science, and culture.
This latest departure follows earlier withdrawals by the US under the Reagan and Trump administrations, both times due to claims of mismanagement and political bias within UNESCO. Critics argue that the US has frequently used its influence to block cultural initiatives that don’t align with its interests, particularly those supporting Palestinian rights, while defending Israeli policies in the international arena.
