After five years without being a member, the United States wants to rejoin UNESCO. Apparently geopolitical reasons are decisive. Secretary General Azoulay spoke of a “strong act of confidence”.
The US wants to rejoin the UN cultural organization, UNESCO. The announcement was made by the director general of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, in Paris. She called the US government’s decision “a strong act of confidence in UNESCO and multilateralism”. This is the result of a policy of détente that has lasted for five years, especially with regard to the Middle East, explained Azoulay when informing the 193 members of the organization about the US decision.
trump decided to leave
For UNESCO, the US re-entry mainly means a significant improvement in its financial situation. As early as 2011, the US had stopped paying its contributions, which represented 22% of UNESCO’s budget. The backdrop was a dispute over the recognition of Palestine as a full member of the cultural organization. Former US President Donald Trump went a step further and decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO, which took effect in 2018. Azoulay has made resuming membership of the United States one of his priorities.
US government circles said the decision had geopolitical reasons. There is concern in Washington that China is filling the gap left by the United States and thus influencing important decisions at UNESCO. Specifically, it’s about standards for artificial intelligence and training in the technology sector around the world.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken justified the US desire to return in March by saying that UNESCO was discussing rules and standards for artificial intelligence. “We should go back to UNESCO, not to do UNESCO a favor, but because very important things are happening there,” he told the US Senate.
US wants to settle outstanding payments
The US government has already informed Congress that 150 million dollars (139 million euros) will be available to UNESCO next year. This amount must also be paid in the coming years to reduce the US debt with the entity. Between 2011 and 2018 – the time of exit – the US had accumulated around 619 million dollars (574 million euros) in debt.
Membership voting is required for reinstatement, which is expected to take place in July. An assumption is considered probable.
The United States left UNESCO in 1984 under then President Ronald Reagan. At the time, the reasons given were mismanagement, corruption and a pro-Soviet attitude on the part of the UN agency. The US only returned in 2003.