WASHINGTON, Jan 8 : President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order suspending US support for 66 international organizations, agencies and commissions, including those affiliated with the United Nations citing concerns that the groups no longer serve US national interests.
This presidential memorandum shows the latest retreat of the United States from global cooperation.
The 66 international organizations have been identified as part of the Trump Administration’s review of wasteful, ineffective, and harmful international organizations. Review of additional international organizations pursuant to Executive Order 14199 remains ongoing.
The targets are largely UN-affiliated bodies focused on climate, labour, and related issues that the Trump administration has criticized as advancing “woke” agendas.
This decision comes amid ongoing US military actions and heightened tensions that have unsettled both allies and adversaries, including the high-profile capture of Venezuelan leader Nicol?s Maduro and President Trump’s expressed interest in Greenland.
On Wednesday morning, the administration took control of two oil tankers linked to Venezuela, enforcing sanctions in an effort to influence the country with the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves.
The withdrawals include 35 non-United Nations organizations and 31 United Nations-affiliated entities, following a government-wide review conducted under Executive Order 14199, officials said.
In a press statement released January 7, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the organisations were identified as “wasteful, ineffective, or harmful,” describing many as redundant, mismanaged, or captured by special interests operating contrary to US priorities.
“The Trump Administration has found these institutions to be redundant in their scope, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, poorly run, captured by the interests of actors advancing their own agendas contrary to our own, or a threat to our nation’s sovereignty, freedoms, and general prosperity. President Trump is clear: It is no longer acceptable to be sending these institutions the blood, sweat, and treasure of the American people, with little to nothing to show for it. The days of billions of dollars in taxpayer money flowing to foreign interests at the expense of our people are over,” the order said.
“The President is clear: it is no longer acceptable to be sending the blood, sweat, and treasure of the American people to institutions with little to nothing to show for it,” Rubio said. “The days of billions of dollars in taxpayer money flowing to foreign interests at the expense of our people are over.”
According to the statement, the administration determined that some of the organisations posed risks to US sovereignty, economic prosperity, and freedoms, while others advanced ideological agendas disconnected from American interests. Officials also criticised what they described as an expanding system of global governance dominated by progressive policies, including diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, climate programs, and gender equity campaigns.
The State Department said the review of additional international organizations is ongoing and that the administration will continue to evaluate U.S. participation on a case-by-case basis.
“We will seek cooperation where it serves our people and stand firm where it does not,” Rubio said.
A full list of the 66 organizations is expected to be released by the State Department.
(UNI)
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