The United States has announced the end of traditional multilateralism, withdrawing from 66 international organizations deemed wasteful and ineffective by the Trump administration. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the international system for being overrun with opaque organizations with poor governance.
Rubio emphasized that the era of unquestioningly funding international bureaucracies is over, as President Donald Trump formalized the decision to withdraw from identified organizations. The move targets institutions considered redundant, mismanaged, and contrary to American interests, according to a Presidential Memorandum.
The State Department highlighted that continued US investment in such bodies no longer benefits American taxpayers or global problem-solving efforts. Rubio argued that supporting dysfunctional organizations legitimizes their failures, particularly in areas like affordable energy and national sovereignty.
Rubio cited examples of dysfunction within UN-linked organizations, including ethical violations by the UN Population Fund and failures by UN Women. He criticized the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change for questionable spending and the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent for promoting racist policies.
The withdrawal from these organizations, selected after a thorough review, does not signify the end of US engagement in global affairs, clarified Rubio. The Trump administration aims to demand tangible results from funded institutions and lead a reform campaign to protect US interests.
