Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 9th January 2026, 2:20 PM
In a major move, the United States has announced its decision to withdraw from 66 international organisations, including several agencies affiliated with the United Nations. The Trump administration has cited inefficiency and counterproductive operations as the primary reasons for the withdrawal, arguing that continued involvement poses both wasteful expenditure and potential harm to national interests.
The announcement was made on Wednesday via a press release from the U.S. Department of State. The statement indicated that the decision forms part of the implementation of an executive order by President Donald Trump, under which other international organisations are also being reviewed.
A comprehensive list of the 66 organisations has been published on the White House website. These include agencies addressing climate change, education, global counter-terrorism, migration development forums, and democracy and electoral cooperation. Among these, 17 are formally affiliated with the United Nations.
| Category | Number of Organisations | Notable Examples |
|---|---|---|
| UN-Affiliated | 17 | UN Economic and Social Council, UN Alliance of Civilisations, UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries, UN Conference on Trade and Development, UN Democracy Fund, UN Energy, UN Human Settlements Programme, UN Oceans, UN Population Fund, UN Water |
| Other International | 49 | Climate and Energy Initiatives, Education Networks, Global Counter-Terrorism Forums, Migration and Development Bodies, Democracy and Electoral Cooperation Organisations |
Several of these organisations, such as the International Solar Alliance, have engaged with countries like Bangladesh. In 2023, Bangladesh signed a national partnership agreement with the Alliance to promote the expansion of solar energy. This agreement is set to run until December of this year.
The State Department emphasised that these organisations suffer from persistent mismanagement and, in many cases, are influenced by actors whose agendas conflict with U.S. interests. According to officials, these bodies represent a threat to American sovereignty and broader economic prosperity.
The press release included a statement from President Trump, who asserted that continued financial support for these organisations was no longer justifiable, given the negligible benefits derived. “Spending on these agencies is unacceptable when it yields little in return,” the statement quoted him as saying.
The withdrawal marks a significant recalibration of the United States’ approach to international engagement, signalling a prioritisation of national interests over multilateral commitments. Analysts predict that this decision may prompt diplomatic ripples across various UN-led initiatives and global cooperation frameworks.
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