US to Withdraw from UNESCO Again: What Washington’s Exit Means for Global Multilateralism
Story, Written by Okafor Joseph AUGUST 29,2025
The United States has formally notified UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay of its decision to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), effective December 31, 2026.
According to U.S. officials, the move is a rejection of what they describe as a “globalist, ideological agenda” and a direct response to UNESCO’s recognition of Palestine. But analysts argue the withdrawal reflects Washington’s deeper shift away from multilateral engagement and toward a transactional, unilateral foreign policy.
A Troubled History with UNESCO
The U.S. was a founding member of UNESCO in 1945, helping establish its post-war mission to promote peace through education, science, and culture. Yet, its relationship with the agency has been inconsistent:
- 1984 – President Ronald Reagan withdrew, citing mismanagement and “anti-Western bias.”
- 2003 – George W. Bush rejoined, only for U.S. funding to freeze in 2011 after UNESCO admitted Palestine.
- 2017 – Donald Trump officially pulled out, claiming anti-Israel bias.
- 2023 – Joe Biden restored membership, paying $619m in arrears.
- 2025 – Washington announces another withdrawal under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, this time citing “ideological incompatibility” with UNESCO’s alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Financial and Political Impact
The U.S. once contributed 22% of UNESCO’s budget before its 2011 freeze, funding projects from girls’ education to cultural heritage preservation. Today, its share is just 8–10%.
The latest exit is expected to cut $20–25 million annually, but experts say the real damage is political.
“UNESCO has prepared for this,” says Nigerian academic Professor Ani Casimir Kingston Chukwunonyelum, a member of the agency’s Technical Working Group on AI Ethics. “Over 85% of its funding comes from other sources. The real loss is U.S. influence in shaping global norms.”
China Gains More Ground
U.S. disengagement is seen as a boost for China, which has strengthened its role in UNESCO since Washington’s previous withdrawal.
“This hands rivals more space to set global standards in areas like AI, cybercrime, and digital ethics,” warns U.S. analyst Brandon Bohrn. “Without America at the table, China and others will fill the vacuum.”
Still, Ani dismisses fears of Chinese dominance: “No single country can rewrite UNESCO’s agenda. Decisions are made collectively by member states.”
A Retreat from Soft Power
UNESCO’s work rarely makes headlines but is vital: safeguarding 1,200+ World Heritage sites, promoting press freedom, protecting indigenous languages, and advancing digital literacy. The withdrawal puts long-standing U.S. collaborations—with the Smithsonian, universities, and the National Park Service—at risk.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen calls it a “win for China,” while critics say it undermines U.S. soft power.
A Familiar Cycle
This is not the first time Washington has walked away, and experts predict the move may be temporary.
“UNESCO’s values and the American people remain aligned,” Ani argues. “Political regimes may change, but the mission of building peace through education and culture will endure.”
He quotes Archibald MacLeish, one of UNESCO’s founders:
“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.”
