In January 2026, Donald Trump, President of the United States, signed a presidential memorandum directing the withdrawal of the US from 66 international organisations.
This includes 31 United Nations (UN) bodies and 35 non-UN organisations, marking one of the largest rollbacks of US multilateral engagement in recent history.
The move has been justified by the administration on grounds of sovereignty, fiscal prudence, economic interests, and ideological divergence, but it has major implications for global governance, climate action, and geopolitics.
Scope of Withdrawal
1. Climate & Environmental Institutions (Major Impact Area)
The US has withdrawn from the core architecture of global climate governance, including:
- UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- Foundational 1992 treaty underpinning all global climate agreements.
- Makes the US the only country not party to the convention.
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
- Ends US participation in global climate science assessments.
- Green Climate Fund
- International Solar Alliance (ISA)
- International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
Result: US exits global rule-making on emissions, carbon markets, climate finance, and renewable energy transitions.
2. Social Policy & Human Development Bodies
Withdrawals include UN entities focusing on gender equality, population, and social inclusion:
- UN Women
- UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
- Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
- UN Democracy Fund
- UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
The administration argues these bodies promote “ideological or globalist agendas” inconsistent with US domestic priorities.
3. Security, Peacebuilding & Governance Bodies
- UN Peacebuilding Commission & Peacebuilding Fund
- Global Counterterrorism Forum
- European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats
- International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
- International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law
Signals preference for bilateral or unilateral security frameworks over multilateral coordination.
Strategic Rationale: “America First” in Practice
The administration outlined four key criteria for withdrawal:
Sovereignty Concerns
- Opposition to institutions influencing US domestic policy.
Economic Alignment
- Climate and energy-transition bodies seen as harmful to fossil fuel interests.
Fiscal Responsibility
- Multilateral contributions viewed as inefficient or low-return for US taxpayers.
Ideological Divergence
- Rejection of “globalist” norms and regulatory approaches.
Implications for Global Climate Action
- Loss of US seat at COP negotiations under the UNFCCC.
- No influence on:
- Carbon markets
- Loss & Damage mechanisms
- Global emissions standards
- Exit from IPCC reduces US role in shaping scientific consensus.
- Withdrawal from the Green Climate Fund undermines the $100 billion/year climate finance pledge, weakening trust between developed and developing countries.
- Creates strategic space for China to expand influence via development finance and green infrastructure (e.g., Belt and Road Initiative).
Impact on India’s Strategic Interests
1. Setback to International Solar Alliance (ISA)
- ISA is India-led and headquartered in New Delhi.
- US withdrawal signals that domestic US energy ideology outweighs renewable diplomacy, complicating India–US clean energy cooperation.
2. Opportunities for Indian Leadership
- Vacuums in global institutions allow India to:
- Act as a bridge between developed and developing countries.
- Lead on climate finance, renewable energy, and South–South cooperation.
- Continued engagement with ISA and IRENA strengthens India’s:
- Clean energy diplomacy
- Global standard-setting role
Legal & Constitutional Issues
The UN Secretary-General has reminded the US that:
- UN budget contributions are legal obligations under the UN Charter.
Constitutional ambiguity:
- US Constitution is clear on entering treaties (Senate ratification),
- But silent on treaty exit, raising scope for judicial challenges (e.g., UNFCCC).
Article 19 of the UN Charter:
- A member losing voting rights in the UN General Assembly if arrears equal two years of dues.