United States President Donald Trump has ordered the country’s withdrawal from 66 international organisations, arguing that their operations conflict with America’s national interests.
According to the White House, 31 of the organisations are affiliated with the United Nations, while the remaining 35 operate outside the UN system.
The decision followed a comprehensive review earlier this year by the US Department of State of all international organisations, treaties and conventions to which the United States belongs. The presidential declaration authorising the withdrawals was signed on Wednesday.
Trump directed all relevant federal agencies and executive departments to immediately begin the process of disengaging from the affected bodies.
Among the notable organisations listed are the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
UNFPA focuses on family planning, maternal health, and campaigns against gender-based violence and harmful practices such as child marriage. The United States has historically been one of the fund’s major contributors, supporting programmes across more than 150 countries.
The UNFCCC coordinates global efforts on climate change and oversees international climate agreements and annual climate conferences. Trump has repeatedly dismissed climate change concerns, previously describing them as exaggerated.
In a separate statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration concluded that the affected institutions were inefficient and no longer served American interests.
Rubio described the organisations as “redundant, mismanaged, wasteful, and driven by the agendas of special interest groups,” adding that the administration would no longer allow taxpayer funds to be spent on bodies that do not directly benefit Americans.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has taken several steps to reduce US participation in international institutions. These include initiating the country’s withdrawal from the World Health Organisation and the Paris Climate Agreement.
He later signed executive orders pulling the United States out of the UN Human Rights Council and halting all future funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for the Near East.
Below is the full list of organisations the United States has withdrawn from:
UN ORGANISATIONS
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) — Economic Commission for Africa
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
International Law Commission
International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
International Trade Centre
Office of the Special Adviser on Africa
Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict
Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict
Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children
Peacebuilding Commission
Peacebuilding Fund
Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
UN Alliance of Civilizations
UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
UN Conference on Trade and Development
UN Democracy Fund
UN Energy
UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
UN Human Settlements Programme
UN Institute for Training and Research
UN Oceans
UN Population Fund
UN Register of Conventional Arms
UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination
UN System Staff College
UN Water
UN University
NON-UN ORGANISATIONS
24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact
Colombo Plan Council
Commission for Environmental Cooperation
Education Cannot Wait
European Centre of Excellence for Countering
Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories
Freedom Online Coalition
Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund
Global Counterterrorism Forum
Global Forum on Cyber Expertise
Global Forum on Migration and Development
Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research
Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
International Cotton Advisory Committee
International Development Law Organization
International Energy Forum
International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law
International Lead and Zinc Study Group
International Renewable Energy Agency
International Solar Alliance
International Tropical Timber Organization
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Pan American Institute of Geography and History
Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation
Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia
Regional Cooperation Council
Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century
Science and Technology Center in Ukraine
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
Venice Commission of the Council of Europe
