Guterres regrets America's withdrawal from UN bodies and climate change
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his deep regret over the White House announcement regarding the United States' decision to withdraw from several UN bodies and agreements. This move comes at a critical time when the international community is facing unprecedented challenges that require global cooperation rather than isolation.
Financial and legal obligations
In an official statement regarding the decision, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric clarified the organization's legal position. He said in a press release: "As we have always stated and emphasized, the assessed contributions of member states to the UN's regular budget and peacekeeping budget—as approved by the General Assembly—are a legal obligation under the UN Charter for all member states, including the United States.".
Dujarric stressed that all UN agencies will continue to carry out the mandates given to them by member states, noting that the organization has a moral and humanitarian responsibility to work for all peoples who depend on its assistance, and that it will continue to carry out its tasks with determination despite the financial challenges that this withdrawal may cause.
Warnings of economic and climate repercussions
In a related context, international reactions focused on the climate aspect, with the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Climate Agreement, Simon Steel, stressing that withdrawing from climate cooperation would not be in Washington’s interest and would directly harm the American economy.
Steele said in his statement: "The United States played a fundamental and historic role in developing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Climate Agreement, because these agreements serve its national interests before they serve a global interest.".
The UN official noted that the United States' withdrawal from climate action cooperation would harm its economy, labor market, and living standards. He explained that ignoring climate change would lead to a rapid increase in natural disasters, such as wildfires, floods, and devastating storms, which cost the US treasury billions of dollars annually.
Risks of international isolation and rising costs
Steele stressed that this move would make the United States less safe and prosperous, and would inevitably lead to higher energy, food, transportation, and insurance costs for American households and businesses as a result of environmental and economic instability.
Historically, the United States has been one of the largest financial contributors to the United Nations and played a pivotal role in establishing the current international order after World War II. International relations experts warn that such withdrawals could weaken Washington's diplomatic influence and create a vacuum that other international powers might fill, thus affecting the global geopolitical balance.
The United Nations concluded its statement by affirming that the Secretariat of the Convention will continue to work tirelessly to help all peoples around the world share the enormous benefits of international cooperation in this area, stressing that the doors will remain open for the United States to return in the future to play its leadership role, as it did previously with regard to the Paris Agreement.
