World News
US withdraws from 66 global bodies, including India-led International Solar Alliance
The United States has announced its withdrawal from 66 international organisations, including the India-led International Solar Alliance (ISA), with President Donald Trump terming them “wasteful, ineffective or harmful” to American interests.
The United States has announced its withdrawal from 66 international organisations, including the India-led International Solar Alliance (ISA), with President Donald Trump terming them “wasteful, ineffective or harmful” to American interests.
The decision was announced through a statement issued by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, following directives contained in an Executive Order signed by Trump. The order mandated a comprehensive review of all international organisations receiving US funding or participation to assess their alignment with Washington’s national interests.
“The Trump Administration has found these institutions to be redundant, mismanaged and often captured by actors advancing agendas contrary to our own. The days of billions of dollars in taxpayer money flowing to foreign interests at the expense of our people are over,” the State Department said.
The list of bodies from which the US is withdrawing includes several key United Nations agencies such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UN Women, and the UN Human Settlements Programme, as well as non-UN organisations like the International Renewable Energy Agency, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The withdrawal from the International Solar Alliance, jointly launched by India and France to promote solar energy deployment globally, is expected to attract diplomatic attention. Headquartered in Gurugram, India, the ISA has been a flagship platform for climate cooperation between developed and developing nations.
The move comes at a time when global climate action faces increasing challenges, prompting concern among allies and environmental groups. Diplomatic observers noted that while the decision could impact multilateral clean energy cooperation with India, bilateral renewable energy partnerships between Washington and New Delhi are likely to continue outside the ISA framework.
The Executive Order stated that the review of additional international organisations “remains ongoing” and reaffirmed the administration’s stance that the US would not expend resources or diplomatic capital on institutions it considers inconsistent with its interests.
While the decision aligns with the administration’s “America First” approach, critics argue it further distances the US from multilateral mechanisms addressing global challenges such as climate change, sustainable development and gender equality.
