US Should Lead Reforms, Not Walk Away from International Organizations

United States President Donald Trump has signed an official memorandum withdrawing the US from 66 international organizations. The list includes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which considers measures to deal with climate change.

Trump charged that the organizations were driven by a progressive ideology and acted contrary to the US national interest.

However, without participation by the US, which has unparalleled financial power and influence, China will become the top donor in many of these organizations. That will only increase Beijing's relative presence on the international scene as it pursues global hegemony. Such a development could, in turn, undermine the existing international order.

Former Secretary of State John Kerry, in charge of climate change in the Biden administration, criticized Trump's announcement as a "gift" to China. For one, China is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. The same holds true for other areas affected by the withdrawals. The Trump administration should carefully consider whether withdrawal from these organizations is truly in the United States' national interest.

COVID-19 — *Problematic WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference in Geneva on May 5, 2023. (Image from live video feed via Kyodo)*

Solve Problems, Not Walk Away

Some of these organizations have admittedly been plagued by problems, such as the World Health Organization. The US, however, had already announced its withdrawal. China, where the COVID-19 pandemic originated, did not provide information about it in a timely fashion. Therefore, the virus spread worldwide. Nevertheless, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised China's response while delaying declaring a state of emergency.

Among the other organizations targeted by Trump are the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the UN Population Fund. Indeed, the Trump administration has criticized many of the organizations for their work on climate change and gender equality issues.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the administration had found these organizations "to be redundant in their scope, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, poorly run, [and] captured by the interests of actors advancing their own agendas contrary to our own."

Even if that is true, would it not be in the US interest to take the lead in reforms? For example, neutral and fair personnel could be placed in these entities, rather than leaving the problems unresolved by withdrawing.

*UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks about the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, on November 6, 2025. (©AP via Kyodo)*

Organizations for International Standards Exempted

According to US media, to expand US influence and counter China, the Trump administration will not withdraw from organizations that set international standards. Those include the International Telecommunication Union, International Maritime Organization, and the International Labor Organization.

If that is the case, then the Administration should also consider other sectors where there is room for US intentions to be reflected.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara avoided direct criticism of the US announcement, saying, "The role that the United States can play in the international community is important." He added, "Japan will work with other countries, including the United States, on issues facing the international community."

The Japanese government has always paid great attention to the UN and international treaties in its foreign policy. Now is the time for Tokyo to play a role as a bridge between the US and those international organizations.