PARIS: The United States has officially rejoined UNESCO, the UN’s cultural agency, reversing its withdrawal that was announced during the Trump administration, the organization confirmed on Friday. Former US President Donald Trump had declared in 2017 that the United States would withdraw from UNESCO, citing bias against Israel. The withdrawal took effect in 2018.
UNESCO, headquartered in Paris, is responsible for global initiatives in education, science, and culture. Its activities include the compilation of a list of world heritage sites, the promotion of press freedom, the advancement of sustainable development, and the implementation of education programs.
During an extraordinary session of the UN body’s General Assembly, the return of the United States was strongly supported, with approximately 132 members voting in favor, 10 against, and 15 abstentions, according to an AFP reporter present at the vote. Dissenting countries included Iran, Syria, China, North Korea, and Russia, whose delegates attempted to delay the vote through procedural statements and proposed amendments.
US a Significant Financial Contributor to UNESCO
The United States, as a founding member of UNESCO, was a significant financial contributor until 2011 when Palestine was admitted as a member state. Under US law, this triggered the suspension of contributions, leading to the formal withdrawal announcement six years later.
Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO since 2017 and a former French culture minister, made it a priority to bring the United States back into the organization. “This is a great day for UNESCO and for multilateralism,” Azoulay expressed on Friday. “Thanks to the momentum it has regained in recent years, our organization is once again moving towards universalism with the return of the United States,” she added.
Prior to the suspension of contributions, the US accounted for approximately 22 percent of UNESCO’s budget, amounting to $75 million. In December, the US Congress, then controlled by the Democratic Party, allocated $150 million in the budget to pave the way for the United States to restore funding.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted in March that the US absence from UNESCO was allowing China to shape rules on artificial intelligence. “I very much believe we should be back in UNESCO – again, not as a gift to UNESCO, but because things that are happening at UNESCO actually matter,” Blinken stated during a Senate committee meeting when presenting the budget. “They are working on rules, norms, and standards for artificial intelligence. We want to be there,” he emphasized.
The United States had previously withdrawn from UNESCO in 1984 under the Reagan presidency but rejoined the organization in October 2003 after nearly 20 years of absence. The decision to welcome the United States back was met with skepticism from some nations. “The United States has already withdrawn twice. We’re not sure how many more times we’re expected to welcome them back,” a North Korean diplomat anonymously told AFP.
The United States currently has outstanding membership arrears totaling $619 million, covering the period from 2011 to 2018—more than UNESCO’s annual budget, estimated at $534 million. The organization stated that the United States would make payments over the coming years to cover its debt. In addition to regular payments, the United States has pledged to make voluntary contributions to support education initiatives in Africa, programs promoting Holocaust memory, and the protection of journalists, as announced by Azoulay on Friday.
