The United States has formally announced its withdrawal from 66 international organisations, among them 17 affiliated with the United Nations. The move, confirmed in a press release by the U.S. State Department on Wednesday, is being implemented under an executive order issued during the administration of former President Donald Trump. The administration argued that many of these organisations are ineffective and, in some cases, act contrary to American interests, resulting in a misallocation of resources.
According to a list published on the White House website, the organisations from which the U.S. is withdrawing encompass a wide range of areas, including climate action, education, counterterrorism, immigration development forums, and democracy and electoral cooperation initiatives.
The 17 UN-affiliated agencies are as follows:
| Agency Name | Brief Description |
|---|---|
| UN Economic and Social Council | Formulates global economic and social development policies |
| UN Alliance of Civilizations | Promotes cultural and religious cohesion and cooperation |
| UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions | Supports forest conservation and emission reduction initiatives |
| UN Conference on Trade and Development | Facilitates international trade and development cooperation |
| UN Democracy Fund | Supports democratic governance and electoral processes |
| UN Energy | Develops global energy policy and sustainable energy projects |
| UN Human Settlements Programme | Focuses on urban development and human settlements |
| UN Oceans | Oversees marine and water conservation projects |
| UN Population Fund | Enhances population management and healthcare services |
| UN Water | Promotes water and sanitation development initiatives |
| Other 7 agencies | Work on environmental, food security, and peace-related projects |
The U.S. State Department asserted that these agencies frequently operate inefficiently, sometimes influenced by interests at odds with U.S. priorities, posing a potential threat to national sovereignty and economic wellbeing. The press release quoted former President Trump stating: “Expenditure on these organisations is no longer justifiable when tangible results are minimal.”
In addition to the withdrawals, the activities of other international bodies are under review. Notably, Bangladesh signed a partnership agreement in 2023 with the International Solar Alliance, aimed at expanding solar energy use and promoting green energy solutions, with the agreement set to run until December of this year.
The Trump administration emphasised that, going forward, the United States will prioritise impartial and effective partnerships, engaging only with international organisations that demonstrably serve American interests and yield measurable results. This marks a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, signalling a move away from broad multilateral engagement toward targeted, results-oriented collaboration.