Daily Management Review

US sets to join UNESCO again


06/12/2023


According to the State Department, the US has informed UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) of its intentions to re-join the organization. Washington withdrew from UNESCO in 2018, accusing it of having anti-Israel views, and refused to support the organization in 2011 since Palestine had been admitted.



Fred Romero
Fred Romero
Richard Verma, the US Under Secretary of State for Management and Resources, reportedly submitted a return plan, which resulted from extensive negotiations between the parties. It is President Joe Biden's strategy to try to challenge "China's growing influence" at UNESCO, writes Axios

According to the magazine’s sources, Ms. Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, will "give an important strategic update" at a special gathering of all UNESCO Member States on Monday, June 12. The sources claim that a strategy for the United States' return will be discussed. According to Axios, the US Congress granted more than $500 million in December 2022 to settle the US's debt to UNESCO.

Because of Palestine's entrance in 2011, Washington chose to discontinue sponsoring the organization. Barack Obama was president at the time. In 2017, the Donald Trump administration said that the US would leave UNESCO.

source: axios.com