US decides to rejoin UNESCO

The United States was a founding member of the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and was a major financial contributor to the organization until 2011, when Palestine was admitted as a member.

The US and Israel then stopped contributing financially to UNESCO and Washington officially withdrew from the UN organization in December 2018. The Trump administration (2017-2021) accused UNESCO of poor management and bias against Israel.

UNESCO logo at the organization's headquarters in Paris, France

However, US Undersecretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma submitted his application for readmission to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay last week, according to AP. Mr. Verma noted progress in depoliticizing the Middle East at UNESCO and reforming the organization's management.

Ms Azoulay, an Israeli, has worked since being elected UNESCO director-general in 2017 to restore effectiveness and credibility to the organisation, particularly through reforms to address the reasons for the US withdrawal.

Ms. Azoulay announced the US plan to ambassadors at a meeting on June 12 and received applause in the room.

The US is scheduled to pay off the debt by 2023, plus an additional $10 million this year for Holocaust education, preserving cultural heritage in Ukraine, ensuring the safety of journalists and science and technology education in Africa.

The Biden administration has requested $150 million in the 2024 budget to repay UNESCO's debt and will request a similar amount in subsequent years until the $619 million debt is paid off.

UNESCO's annual operating budget is $534 million. Before withdrawing, the US contributed 22% of the organization's total budget.

UNESCO's 193 members are expected to vote on readmitting the United States in July.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay speaks on June 12 about the US's re-entry request

US Undersecretary of State for Management John Bass said in March that the US absence had helped strengthen China’s influence. He asserted that UNESCO is the key organization in setting standards for technology and science education in the world, so if the US is really serious about competing with China in the digital age, Washington cannot remain absent.

China's ambassador to UNESCO, Yang Jin, said he appreciated UNESCO's efforts to bring the US back, as its absence had "negatively impacted" the organization's work.

"Being a member of an international organization is a serious matter, and we hope that this return of the US means that they acknowledge the mission and goals of the organization," Mr. Duong said.

The United States joined UNESCO in 1945 but withdrew in 1984 to protest allegations of financial mismanagement and bias against the United States. In 2003, the US administration under President George W. Bush rejoined UNESCO, saying the organization had made necessary reforms.

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