Donald Trump is preparing executive orders that would dramatically reduce US funding of the United Nations, as well as other international organizations that do not meet certain criteria. The upcoming order would dramatically reduce the US’ role in the UN and other international organizations
The executive order plans to repeal certain multilateral treaties too, which would likely include treaties on climate change. The terms of this executive order have already been codified in US law, according to former Obama administration officials, who were compelled to cut funding to UNESCO after the body accepted Palestine as a full member in 2011.
The first order, called “Auditing and Reducing US Funding of International Organisations”, will take away funding for any United Nations agency or international body that meets criteria, including: organisations that give full membership to the Palestinian Authority or Palestine Liberation Organisation; support abortion and any group that circumvents sanctions on Iran or North Korea. That effort, led by senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida, gained steam after the Obama administration last month abstained from a Security Council resolution condemning Israel over its settlement enterprise.
Funding will be taken away from any organisation that is “controlled or substantially influenced by any state that sponsors terrorism” or is behind the persecution of marginalised groups or systematic violation of human rights.
The order has singled out peacekeeping, the International Criminal Court and the United Nations Population Fund. The UNPFA targets violence against women, fights to keeps childbirth and abortion, where it is legal, safe, and was a key presence in safeguarding women in Haiti following Hurricane Matthew.
The Palestinians enjoy “non-member state” status at the UN, which grants them limited operational freedoms. Washington funds roughly 22 percent of the UN’s overall annual budget.
The order demands decreasing US funding towards international organisations by at least 40 per cent. Trump has included the International Criminal Court here, yet the US currently pays nothing to the ICC because they are not a part of it.
If this order is signed, it would essentially decimate a global peacekeeping operation which is present in 16 countries.
