Trump Orders US Withdrawal from 66 Major International and UN-Linked Organisations
Presidential memorandum expands Washington’s retreat from multilateral forums, covering climate, energy, development and UN agencies
US, Dec 08 : The United States has begun withdrawing from dozens of international organisations and United Nations linked bodies following a new presidential memorandum signed by President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
The directive instructs US government departments and agencies to exit global institutions, conventions, and treaties that the administration says no longer align with American national interests. The move marks a significant escalation in Washington’s disengagement from multilateral platforms, particularly those linked to climate action, energy cooperation, and development.
According to a statement issued by the White House, the memorandum lists a total of 66 organisations, including 35 non UN bodies and 31 United Nations entities, from which the United States will withdraw.
Organisations affected
Among the non-UN organisations named are the India- and France-led International Solar Alliance, along with prominent environmental and climate institutions such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Other bodies include the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the International Energy Forum, and the Global Counterterrorism Forum.
On the UN side, the withdrawal applies to entities such as the International Trade Centre, the Peacebuilding Commission, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the International Law Commission, UN Energy, UN Water, and the UN Population Fund, among others.
What the memorandum directs
The presidential memorandum instructs all executive departments and agencies to take immediate steps to formalise the withdrawals. For UN-linked organisations, this includes ending US participation and halting financial contributions wherever permitted under domestic law.
The White House said the decision followed a review conducted by the Secretary of State in consultation with Cabinet members. Based on the findings, the President concluded that continued involvement in the listed organisations was not in the national interest of the United States.
Part of a broader shift
The latest move forms part of a wider shift in US foreign policy under the Trump administration, which has increasingly favoured bilateral engagement over participation in global institutions.
In January 2025, the United States began its withdrawal from the World Health Organisation, citing what it described as the agency’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was followed in July 2025 by Washington’s exit from UNESCO, with officials arguing that the organisation no longer reflected US priorities.
Taken together, these decisions underscore a broader strategic direction aimed at reducing US involvement in multilateral institutions while prioritising domestic interests and bilateral partnerships.
