US withdrawal from UNESCO triggers worldwide calls to defend multilateralism

The United States has announced its withdrawal from UNESCO, the United Nations agency responsible for education, science and culture, a move that has drawn an immediate and widespread international response in defence of multilateral institutions.

Governments, diplomats and cultural organisations across the globe have voiced concern over the decision, arguing that shared global challenges can only be addressed through collective international frameworks rather than unilateral action.

The withdrawal has reignited a broader debate about the future of multilateralism at a time when international bodies face mounting pressure. Supporters of UNESCO warn that American disengagement weakens the agency's capacity to fulfil its mandate on issues ranging from heritage preservation to scientific collaboration.