94Ha Viewpoint
US President Trump criticized the United Nations for its inability to effectively resolve various conflicts. The United States decided to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council and continued to stop funding the UN’s main aid agency in Palestine.
Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday (February 4) to stop cooperation with the United Nations Human Rights Council, continue to suspend funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and review the United States’ participation in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
He stated that the United Nations has great potential and that the United States will continue to support it, but he also accused the United Nations of poor functioning and its agencies of not doing their jobs well.
The United States is the largest donor to UNRWA. The United States decided to suspend funding to the organization until March this year after it was accused last year of having its staff involved in Hamas attacks on Israel.
The Human Rights Council has 47 member states, each serving a three-year term. The United States’ term as a member of the Council ended at the end of last year and it is now an observer. During his first term in office, Trump announced the United States’ withdrawal from the Human Rights Council, citing the Council’s long-term targeting of Israel and lack of reform.
UN Secretary-General’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that the United States’ support for the United Nations saves countless lives and promotes global security. Secretary-General Guterres looks forward to continuing to develop a productive relationship with Trump and the US government and strengthening this relationship in today’s turbulent world.
The United Nations has nearly 200 member states. The United States is the largest contributor, followed by China, but Trump is dissatisfied with the disproportionate funding provided by the United States to the United Nations. According to UN data, the United States currently owes the UN a total of US$2.8 billion (approximately S$3.8 billion).
Trump recalls thousands of UN agency workers abroad
Trump also announced on Tuesday that he would arrange leave for all direct employees of the United States Agency for International Development (UNIDO) around the world and recall thousands of overseas staff.
According to the announcement on the official website of the UNDP, starting from 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday (7th), the UNDP has arranged administrative leave for all direct employees worldwide, except for some personnel responsible for key tasks and specially designated projects and core leaders. The UNDP is also developing plans to arrange for its overseas personnel to return to the United States within 30 days.
UNDP Acting Administrator and Secretary of State Rubio previously stated that the Trump administration tried to reform UNDP, but UNDP employees completely refused to cooperate, so only major measures could be taken to control the situation.
As the main aid agency for U.S. foreign policy, UNDP funds health and emergency projects in about 120 countries and has more than 10,000 employees, about two-thirds of whom work overseas.
Smith, director of the United Nations Population Fund in Asia and the Pacific, warned that U.S. cuts in foreign aid could have particularly serious consequences in Afghanistan, where more than 9 million people would be unable to access medical and protection services.
