Washington has formally announced its intention to withdraw once again from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The decision, made public on July 22, 2025, will take effect on December 31, 2026. It marks another chapter in the long and troubled relationship between the U.S. and the Paris-based agency.
On July 22, 2025, the United States officially notified UNESCO of its plan to leave the organization, following weeks of mounting speculation. The withdrawal will become effective on December 31, 2026, in accordance with the one-year notification period required by the agency’s constitution. This move revives a familiar cycle of tension between Washington and the cultural arm of the United Nations.
According to the official statement, the decision is rooted in what U.S. authorities described as “irreconcilable differences” over the agency’s direction and priorities. American officials cite what they perceive as a persistent political bias, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a growing politicization of cultural and educational programs that, in their view, stray from “core American values.” Diplomatic sources also point to growing unease over China’s expanding influence within the organization’s leadership and programming.
The announcement comes only two years after the U.S. rejoined UNESCO in 2023, under President Biden, reversing the withdrawal initiated by the Trump administration in 2017. At the time, the U.S. had resumed its financial contributions, settling over $600 million in back dues, and actively sought to reestablish its presence and leadership within the agency. The return had been widely interpreted as a recommitment to international cooperation in education and culture.
The exit will follow the formal procedures outlined in UNESCO’s constitution, which mandates a one-year interval between notification and final withdrawal. During this period, the U.S. will retain its seat but is expected to gradually scale back its involvement and funding commitments.
This latest disengagement fits a broader pattern of U.S. retrenchment from multilateral institutions. Since early 2025, Washington has already suspended funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), scaled down its role in the World Health Organization, and raised concerns about its future engagement with the UN Human Rights Council.
The announcement has triggered mixed reactions. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, issued a brief statement expressing regret over the decision, while reaffirming the agency’s dedication to working with all member states “around shared values of education, culture, and science.” Several European foreign ministries have voiced disappointment, describing the move as a setback for global cultural cooperation.
Once again, the U.S. is walking away from an institution it helped establish in 1945 a departure that, while procedurally routine, raises broader questions about the future of international cultural dialogue in a world increasingly shaped by geopolitical divisions.
BAÏDJAN Ahmed , Correspondent , India
