PARIS — The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced Monday that the United States plans to rejoin the UN scientific and cultural agency and pay more than $600 million in arrears. , after a decade-long dispute sparked by the organization’s decision to include Palestine as a member.
US officials say the decision to return was prompted by concerns that China is filling the void left by the United States in UNESCO’s policymaking, particularly in setting standards for Artificial Intelligence and technology education in everyone.
US Under Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma sent a letter last week to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay formalizing his government’s plan to rejoin.
Applause rang out Monday in the UNESCO auditorium after Azoulay announced the plan to the ambassadors at a special meeting. Delegate after delegate rose to their feet to congratulate themselves on the news and the new influx of funds. The return of the United States, once the agency’s biggest funder, is expected to be put to a vote by its 193 member states next month, according to a UNESCO diplomat.
The decision is a major financial boost for the UN agency, known for its World Heritage program as well as projects to combat climate change and teach girls to read around the world.
The United States and Israel stopped funding UNESCO after the agency voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011, and both countries lost their voting rights in 2013. The government of then-President Donald Trump decided in 2017 to withdraw the country. from the agency entirely the following year, citing alleged anti-Israel bias and management problems.
