News - World: The United States has decided to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the second time for its decision to admit Palestine as a member state. 

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly announced the decision in a statement on Tuesday.

Kelly said the reason was UNESCO's support for initiatives that are considered inconsistent with US interests.

"President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO – which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November," Kelly said.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce also emphasized that remaining in UNESCO is not in its national interests, accusing the organization of having "a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with the America First foreign policy".

She went on to say that the admission of Palestine as a member state by UNESCO is viewed as highly problematic and goes against the US policy, contributing to an increase in anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed deep regret over Trump's decision to withdraw from the organization, but added that it was anticipated and UNESCO has prepared for it.”

She also noted that the agency had taken steps to diversify its funding sources, with only approximately 8% of its budget coming from Washington.

The withdrawal from the Paris-based agency is scheduled to take effect on December 31, 2026. 

The move is a blow to UNESCO, which was founded after World War II with the aim of promoting peace through international cooperation in education, science, and culture.

The US withdrew from UNESCO during Trump’s first term but rejoined under former US President Joe Biden.

Trump's US withdrawal from UNESCO, which went into effect in late 2018, came seven years after the Obama administration suspended funding to UNESCO after Palestinians were admitted as a member while claiming that the agency promoted "anti-Israeli policy."

The US previously withdrew from UNESCO under the Reagan administration in 1984 because it viewed the agency as "mismanaged and corrupt." The US rejoined in 2003, before leaving again under Trump.

Washington has persistently tried to block and challenge cultural efforts by other UNESCO members based on its own worldview and self-serving interests. It has also used its influence to represent and defend the openly racist policies of the Zionist regime occupying Palestine.

Source: Press TV