UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed regret over the decision by the White House to withdraw the United States from 35 international organisations and 31 United Nations entities.
In a statement issued on Thursday by UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric in New York, Guterres said the United Nations would continue to carry out its responsibilities despite the U.S. decision.
President Donald Trump had ordered the immediate withdrawal of the United States from several international organisations, conventions and treaties his administration considers contrary to U.S. interests. The directive followed a report submitted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pursuant to Executive Order 14199 of Feb. 4, 2025.
In a White House memorandum dated Jan. 7, 2026, Trump said that after reviewing the report and consulting with his cabinet, he concluded that continued U.S. participation in the affected organisations was against national interests. He directed all executive departments and agencies to take immediate steps to withdraw from the listed bodies as soon as legally permissible.
The withdrawal affects 31 UN agencies and entities, including the UN Population Fund, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UN Democracy Fund. Also impacted are several UN Secretariat offices addressing issues such as children in armed conflict and sexual violence, as well as four of the UN’s five regional commissions covering Africa, Asia-Pacific, Western Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
The United States is the largest assessed contributor to the UN, accounting for 22 per cent of the regular budget and about 26 per cent of the peacekeeping budget as of 2025. However, U.S. law caps peacekeeping payments at 25 per cent, leading to arrears. As of January 2026, outstanding U.S. contributions are estimated at about 1.5 billion dollars.
Guterres stressed that assessed contributions to the UN’s regular and peacekeeping budgets are legal obligations under the UN Charter for all member states. He said all UN entities would continue implementing their mandates.
“The United Nations has a responsibility to deliver for those who depend on us,” Guterres said, adding that the organisation would carry on its work with determination despite the U.S. withdrawal.