• United States rejoins Unesco, reversing Trump-era withdrawal
• Overwhelming vote by United Nations General Assembly welcomes US return
• US to repay Unesco’s debt and pledge voluntary contributions to education and journalist protection

On Friday, the United States rejoined Unesco, reversing its withdrawal during the Trump administration, according to the United Nations’ cultural agency.

Former US president Donald Trump announced in 2017 that he would withdraw the United States and Israel from Unesco, citing the organization’s prejudice against the Jewish state. This decision went into effect in 2018.

Paris-based Unesco is the educational, scientific, and cultural organization of the United Nations. It compiles a list of world heritage sites, defends press freedom, promotes sustainable development, and conducts educational programs as part of its activities.

An AFP reporter presents at the vote reported that an extraordinary session of the General Assembly of the United Nations voted overwhelmingly for the return of the United States, with approximately 132 members voting in favor, 10 against, and 15 abstentions.

Iran, Syria, China, North Korea, and Russia were among those who dissented, and their delegates appeared to be attempting to prolong the vote through several procedural statements and amendment proposals.

Before Palestine joined Unesco in 2011, the US, a founding member, was a major donor.

By US law, this resulted in the cessation of contributions, leading to the formal withdrawal announcement six years later.

Audrey Azoulay, the former French minister of culture who has led Unesco since 2017 and made the reintegration of the United States a priority during her tenure, is the current director of Unesco.

“This is a great day for Unesco and multilateralism,” said Azoulay on Friday.

“With the return of the United States, our organization is once again moving towards universalism, thanks to the momentum it has regained over the past few years,” she said.

Before the suspension of its contributions in 2011 — a decision made during the Obama administration — the United States contributed approximately 22 percent, or $75 million, to Unesco’s budget.

In December, however, the US Congress, which was then entirely controlled by the Democratic Party of current Vice President Joe Biden, paved the way for the United States to restore funding by allocating $150 million to the budget.

In March, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said China wrote AI regulations while the US was absent from Unesco.

When presenting the budget to a Senate committee, Blinken stated, “I strongly believe that we should rejoin Unesco — again, not as a gift to Unesco, but because Unesco’s activities are of actual significance.”

They are developing artificial intelligence rules, norms, and standards. We desire to be there,” he declared.

In 1984, during the Reagan administration, the US left Unesco, but returned in October 2003.

“The United States has withdrawn twice already. We do not know how many more times we will be expected to welcome them back,” a North Korean diplomat told AFP, requesting anonymity.

The US owes $619 million in membership dues for 2011–2018, more than the agency’s $534 million budget.

The United States will repay Unesco’s debt over the future years, according to the organization.

In addition to renewing its regular payments to the organization, the United States has pledged to make voluntary contributions to education initiatives in Africa, Holocaust memory programs, and journalist protection, said Azoulay on Friday.