The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, held in New York from September 22 to 28, highlighted the challenges facing the multilateral system. The session's theme, "Restoring trust, managing transformation," reflected concerns about the system's ability to produce concrete results in the face of increasingly unilateral approaches by world leaders. The US withdrawal from several UN organizations has added to these concerns.
On January 7, the Trump administration announced its withdrawal from 31 organizations directly related to the UN system and 35 others on its periphery. This move has significant implications for the financial resources of these institutions, as the US has historically contributed a considerable share. The withdrawal affects several key areas, including climate change, health, labor, and migration.
The US withdrawal from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is particularly notable, given the ongoing importance of climate change negotiations. Mahmoud Ben Romdhane, former president of the Beit al-Hikma Academy, has noted that the US is becoming an isolationist power, prioritizing "America First" over multilateral cooperation. This approach marks a significant shift from the US role as a leader in the post-war multilateral order.
The US decision to withdraw from several UN organizations is not simply a sovereignist impulse, but rather the logical conclusion of a philosophy that views international cooperation as a means to justify expenses in line with US national interests. The US has withdrawn from several key institutions, including the International Renewable Energy Agency and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a "world based on interdependence" rather than fragmentation. This appeal is particularly relevant in the context of the US withdrawal from UN organizations. The US retains its seat on the UN Security Council, where it can exercise its veto power to block resolutions deemed unfavorable, particularly those related to Israel.
The US withdrawal from UN organizations raises questions about the future of the multilateral system. Will this move mark the beginning of a broader erosion of the UN system, as other major powers follow suit? Or will it prompt the rest of the world to learn to function without US participation? The outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the UN is no longer the same as it was at the close of the previous session.
The implications of the US withdrawal are far-reaching, and the international community will be watching closely to see how the UN system adapts to this new reality. The UN's ability to address global challenges, such as climate change, health, and migration, will depend on its ability to function effectively without the participation of one of its key member states.
Key points
- The US withdrawal from UN organizations has significant implications for the future of multilateralism and the effectiveness of the UN system.
- The withdrawal affects several key areas, including climate change, health, labor, and migration.
- The US retains its seat on the UN Security Council, where it can exercise its veto power to block resolutions deemed unfavorable.
