US leaves UNESCO saying ‘Not in national interest’

The United States officially announced its withdrawal from UNESCO on Tuesday, citing concerns over the organisation's alleged bias against Israel and its promotion of what it called divisive agendas.

A spokesperson from the State Department stated that the remaining part of the UN's cultural and educational agency no longer aligns with U.S. national interests.

This decision, though made under the current administration, follows a similar move made during President Donald Trump’s tenure in 2017, when the U.S. previously pulled out of UNESCO. The U.S. had rejoined under President Joe Biden, but the latest exit suggests a renewed shift in policy.

According to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, the agency has become too focused on advancing United Nations sustainability goals, which she described as a "globalist, ideological agenda."

She also pointed to the organisation’s stance on Israel, especially its recognition of Palestine as a state, as another major reason behind the U.S. decision to disengage, AFP reported.

Bruce noted that UNESCO’s decision to grant membership to the “State of Palestine” runs counter to longstanding U.S. policy and has, in her view, fueled anti-Israel sentiment within the organisation. She described this move as a key factor behind Washington's decision to withdraw.

UNESCO defines its mission as fostering global collaboration in education, science, and culture. One of its most visible roles is maintaining the World Heritage list, which aims to protect globally significant landmarks—from Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and Tanzania’s Serengeti to Egypt’s Pyramids and the Acropolis in Athens.

Historically, this isn’t the first time the U.S. has exited the organisation. In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan also withdrew American membership, criticising UNESCO as corrupt and biased toward the Soviet Union. The U.S. only rejoined years later under President George W. Bush.