Hey, amig@s! 🌎 Did you catch the U.S. State Department's latest move? On July 22, America announced it would withdraw from UNESCO—its third exit to date, just two years after rejoining. No shocker here: we’ve gotten too used to these drop-and-leave moments.
Selective Team Play
Under the America First banner, the U.S. practices selective multilateralism: jumping in when convenient, bailing out when the cost is high. From signed pacts casually torn up to discarded commitments, the U.S. playbook is stacking up.
Bye-Bye Paris (Again)
In early 2025, the U.S. once again withdrew from the Paris Agreement, arguing the deal did 'not reflect our country's values or our contributions…' 🌡️ The message? Economic growth trumps climate promises.
'We're going to drill, baby, drill,' signaled a sharp reversal from previous green policies. According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Trump administration budget proposes an 87% cut in UN funding—slashing dues, peacekeeping budgets, and voluntary contributions alike.
Goodbye USAID & WHO
Early 2025 also saw the dissolution of USAID and the termination of over 80% of its projects. And it didn’t stop there—the U.S. suspended funding to the WHO and initiated a total exit. Even the International Criminal Court felt the heat, with sanctions over what the U.S. calls 'illegitimate actions.' ⚖️
On top of that, America’s been using sanctions to strong-arm other countries into picking sides, putting global cooperation at risk. Chanting 'Make America Great Again' while repeatedly exiting multilateral clubs is like throwing your membership cards in the trash—damaging credibility and shaking the foundations of the international order.
So, where does this leave us? As the U.S. continues its exit spree—from UNESCO to the Paris pact, WHO, and beyond—the question remains: can a world built on shared rules survive when one key player keeps walking away? 🤔
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
