U.S.'s UNESCO quit signals a retreat from multilateralism

Washington's decision to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the second time under U.S. President Donald Trump's tenure, is far more than a routine policy shift. It is the latest chapter in a long, tumultuous relationship between America and the global body, revealing a pattern of unpredictable engagement that inflicts damage not only on UNESCO but also on U.S. credibility, influence and strategic interests.

Since the founding of UNESCO in 1945, the U.S. has been deeply ambivalent about it. While a charter member, the U.S. first pulled out in 1984, citing concerns about perceived political bias. The country returned in 2003 and again withdrew under Trump in 2017, this time over allegations of anti-Israel bias and disputes around Palestine's membership, only to rejoin under President Joe Biden in 2023 – and now, once more, preparing to withdraw again.

This on-again, off-again relationship is not simply a matter of diplomatic sparring. It reveals a short-sighted approach that damages global cooperation at a time when the world's interconnected challenges demand sustained, multilateral engagement.

To begin with, diplomacy is built on trust and continuity. When the U.S. vacillates between engagement and disassociation every few years along with shifts in administration or ideology, it creates uncertainty among allies and multilateral institutions. As a superpower, America's commitments are often transient and contingent upon shifting political winds, undermining its moral credibility.

This unpredictability reduces the United States' leverage on the international stage, making it more difficult to garner support for causes important to global well-being. Shouting America First, the U.S. is instead harming not only its own interests but also the well-being of the international community.

"This decision (Washington's withdrawal from the UNESCO) contradicts the fundamental principles of multilateralism and may affect first and foremost our many partners in the United States of America – communities seeking site inscription on the World Heritage List, Creative City status, and University Chairs," Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, expressed her deep regret to Trump's decision.

Posting on X, French President Emmanuel Macron professed his country's "unwavering support for UNESCO" and made it clear that "the withdrawal of the United States will not weaken" France's commitment to the global body.

"The decision of the United States to withdraw once again from UNESCO is deeply regrettable," Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said, adding that "Belgium stands firmly by UNESCO and by the idea that global challenges demand global solutions." Prévot also urged the establishment of "strong multilateral institutions" in a world "shaken by conflict, disinformation and division."

"The (UN) Secretary-General (Antonio Guterres) also deeply regrets this withdrawal, in light of the major role the U.S. has played in UNESCO since its founding," spokesperson Stephane Dujarric conveyed Guterres' message about the quit, urging member states to remain engaged if they seek reform.

The challenges the international community faces today – climate change, biodiversity loss, cultural preservation, global education, and scientific innovation – are inherently transnational. UNESCO is uniquely positioned as a forum where states convene to generate collective responses, set technical standards, and share knowledge.

When the U.S. disengages, it reduces the likelihood that coordinated action will succeed. It signals to the world that America's commitment to multilateral solutions is conditional and fragile. This diminishes the efficacy of the rules-based international order that U.S. policymakers often champion in words.

America's serial entries and exits from UNESCO reveal a transactional, short-term mindset toward global governance. Treating multilateral institutions as intermittent tools subject to domestic political whims, the U.S. is repeatedly challenging the principles of multilateralism.

For its America First pursuit, Washington is ironically threatening both American interests and global progress instead.

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