In a seismic shift for global diplomacy, US President Donald Trump has declared that the United States will pull out of dozens of international bodies, claiming they work against American interests.
The Scope of the Withdrawal
The announcement, made on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, targets a total of 66 entities. This includes 35 non-UN organisations and 31 UN agencies and programmes. The White House stated the move is part of a sweeping review of all international treaties and intergovernmental bodies.
Among the most significant departures is the planned exit from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This treaty is the foundational agreement underpinning the 2015 Paris climate accord. Manish Bapna, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, warned this would make the US the first nation ever to leave the UNFCCC, isolating itself from critical economic and environmental negotiations.
The US will also withdraw from UN Women, which promotes gender equality, and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which focuses on family planning and maternal health worldwide. Funding for UNFPA was already cut by the Trump administration last year.
A Pattern of Disengagement
This decision reinforces President Trump's longstanding scepticism of multilateral institutions. Since starting his second term a year ago, his administration has sought to reduce US funding for the UN, disengaged from the UN Human Rights Council, and announced intentions to leave the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement.
A White House memo clarified that "withdrawal means ceasing participation in or funding to those entities to the extent permitted by law." The administration argues the targeted bodies promote "radical climate policies, global governance, and ideological programs" that conflict with US sovereignty and economic strength.
Global Reaction and Consequences
The move has sparked immediate concern among international observers and climate advocates. It follows the US's absence from last year's UN climate summit, the first such miss in thirty years. A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres did not immediately offer comment.
The full list of organisations includes a wide range of bodies focused on trade, development, arms control, and environmental issues:
- Non-UN bodies: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
- UN bodies: UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UN Peacebuilding Commission, UN Register of Conventional Arms.
The White House contends that this action will reallocate American taxpayer money away from what it sees as inefficient or ideologically opposed globalist agendas, redirecting funds to better support US priorities.
