The United States has rejoined the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), according to an announcement made by the UN’s cultural agency.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that during the Trump administration, former President Donald Trump declared in 2017 the withdrawal of the United States from UNESCO, citing bias against Israel. The decision took effect in 2018, leading to a period of absence for the country from the international organization.
However, in an extraordinary session of the UN body’s General Assembly, a resounding majority voted in favour of the United States’ return, as reported by an attending journalist from the Agence France-Presse (AFP). Out of approximately 157 members, 132 voted in favour, while 10 voted against, and 15 abstained.
Among the dissenting voices were Iran, Syria, China, and Russia, whose representatives attempted to delay the voting process by making statements on procedure and suggesting amendments.
The United States, a founding member of UNESCO, had been a significant financial contributor to the organization until 2011. At that time, UNESCO’s acceptance of Palestine as a member state triggered the cessation of US contributions under domestic law, eventually culminating in the formal withdrawal announcement six years later.
