President Donald J. Trump signed a presidential memorandum this Wednesday that orders the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organizations.
According to the document, these organizations “no longer serve American interests”. The directive instructs federal agencies to take “immediate action” to finalize the exit “as soon as possible” and specifies that the decision is based on a review previously ordered by the White House.
The measure includes 35 non-UN organizations and 31 entities of the United Nations system.
"Many of these organizations promote radical climate policies, global governance, and ideological programs that conflict with the sovereignty and economic strength of the United States," the text states.
And add: "American taxpayers have spent billions of dollars on these organizations with few results, while they often criticize U.S. policies, promote agendas contrary to our values, or waste taxpayer money pretending to address important issues but achieving no real outcomes."
According to the memorandum, the measure arises from Executive Order 14199 (issued on February 4, 2025), which requested the Secretary of State —in consultation with the U.S. representative to the UN— to review all intergovernmental international organizations in which the United States participates, as well as conventions and treaties, to determine which would be “contrary” to the national interest.
Trump states that he has already reviewed the report from the Secretary of State and, after deliberating with his cabinet, concluded that it is against the country's interests to continue participating or providing support to the listed entities.
In the case of entities linked to the United Nations, withdrawal implies ceasing participation or stopping funding them “to the extent permitted by law”. It also adds that the review of “other conclusions” from the Secretary of State “continues.”
The memorandum lists 35 non-UN organizations, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the International Solar Alliance, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Global Forum on Migration and Development, the Global Forum on Counter-Terrorism, the International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, among other platforms and agreements mentioned in the document.
Also listed are 31 entities of the UN system from which the United States will withdraw, including components of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, several regional commissions of ECOSOC, the International Law Commission, the International Trade Centre, offices of the Secretary-General related to children and armed conflict and to sexual violence in conflict.
The Commission on Peace Consolidation and its fund, the Alliance of Civilizations, UNCTAD, the United Nations Democracy Fund, UN Women, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UN-Habitat, the UN Population Fund, the Conventional Arms Register, UN-Water, and the United Nations University, among others detailed in the list, are also included.
For the implementation, the memorandum stipulates that the Secretary of State shall issue the “additional guidance” necessary to the agencies, and authorizes and directs the Secretary himself to publish the memorandum in the Federal Register.
The text also emphasizes that it will be applied in accordance with the current legislation and subject to the availability of funds, and that it does not create enforceable rights against the government.
The decision comes amid a context of high diplomatic tension.
One day earlier, the United States appeared before the UN Security Council to reject accusations of "war" or "occupation" following the detention of Nicolás Maduro, in a session marked by exchanges with Russia and China.
The U.S. ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, stated that there was no “war” against Venezuela nor an occupation, but rather a “police operation” against a figure that Washington deems illegitimate and linked to drug trafficking.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that the U.S. is "at war with Venezuela" and described the operation as a "legal and limited" action of "law enforcement," related to charges of drug trafficking and organized crime.
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