The United States has announced its plan to rejoin UNESCO starting in July this year, putting an end to a long-standing dispute that began with Washington’s termination of its membership in 2018.
On Monday, the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, gathered representatives of the Organization’s 193 Member States to inform them that the United States of America had officially notified her of its decision to rejoin UNESCO in July 2023, on the basis of a concrete financing plan.
UNESCO, the cultural body of the United Nations, made the announcement on Monday, with Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressing her belief that this decision reflects a strong commitment to UNESCO and multilateralism.
“This is a strong act of confidence, in UNESCO and in multilateralism. Not only in the centrality of the Organization’s mandate – culture, education, science, information – but also in the way this mandate is being implemented today, ” Azoulay said.
The United States, being a founding member of UNESCO, had been a significant financial contributor until 2011 when Palestine was accepted as a member state. This event led to a dispute between the US and UNESCO. In 2017, then-President Donald Trump announced the country’s withdrawal from UNESCO, a move that was implemented in 2018. However, Azoulay, who has been leading UNESCO since 2017, made it a priority during her tenure to restore American membership.
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma expressed gratitude to Azoulay for her efforts in addressing important issues and reducing the politicization of debates surrounding UNESCO. Prior to the suspension of its contributions in 2011, the United States accounted for approximately 22% of UNESCO’s budget, equivalent to $75 million.
The US Congress, currently under the control of President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party, allocated $15 million in the budget in December, signaling a pathway for the resumption of financial assistance.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has highlighted the absence of the US from UNESCO, stating that it allowed China to shape the rules on artificial intelligence. Blinken emphasized the importance of the US’s return to UNESCO, particularly in contributing to the formulation of rules, standards, and norms related to artificial intelligence.
The decision to rejoin UNESCO is not the first time the United States has left and rejoined the organization. The US withdrew from UNESCO in 1984 and rejoined in October 2003 after nearly two decades.
The proposed plan for rejoining in 2023 will now undergo review and approval by the General Assembly of UNESCO member states. Some member states are advocating for an extraordinary session to be convened soon to make a decision on the matter.
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