The United States has confirmed its withdrawal from 66 international organizations, a move officials say reflects President Trump’s commitment to prioritising American interests.
On Wednesday, the Trump administration issued a memorandum directed to the heads of executive departments and agencies, according to which the United States will leave a total of 66 international organizations, conventions, and treaties.
The White House memorandum identifies the targeted bodies as “contrary to the interests of the United States.”
The withdrawal list features organisations related to ocean-coastal, maritime piracy, hybrid threats, and climate change issues, among other fields.
President Trump’s administration views itself as acting in the best interest of the American people, prioritizing domestic needs over international commitments. This perspective is fuelled by a narrative of “America First.”
“We will not continue expending resources, diplomatic capital, and the legitimizing weight of our participation in institutions that are irrelevant to or in conflict with our interests,” reads the statement of secretary of state Marco Rubio on December 7.
The move targets a broad swath of non-U.N. entities and United Nations bodies. Rubio has framed the decision as an effort to reassert U.S. sovereignty and cut off entities funded by American taxpayers, “with little to nothing to show for it.”
It follows a review mandated by Executive Order 14199, which instructed the Secretary of State, in consultation with the United States Representative to the United Nations, to assess all international intergovernmental organizations of which the United States is a member and provides any type of funding or other support, and all conventions and treaties to which the United States is a party, and to determine which organizations, conventions, and treaties are contrary to the interests of the United States.
According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the days of billions of dollars in taxpayer money “flowing to foreign interests at the expense of our people are over.”
But critics argue the withdrawals diminish the country’s global influence and ability to shape international norms on issues such as climate change and economic development.
The Trump administration has instructed all executive departments and agencies to begin the withdrawal process as soon as possible from the organizations listed in the memorandum.
For United Nations entities, withdrawal means ceasing participation in or funding to those entities to the extent permitted by law.
The State Department has indicated that review of additional international organizations pursuant to Executive Order 14199 remains ongoing.
