U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO sparks global calls to defend multilateralism

The United States has decided to withdraw from UNESCO, the United Nations agency responsible for education, science and culture, a move that has reverberated across the international community and prompted widespread calls for defending multilateralism.

Governments and institutions around the world have responded to the announcement by urging countries to reaffirm their commitment to cooperative, rules-based international frameworks at a time of mounting global challenges.

The departure marks a significant moment for the UN body, raising fresh questions about the future of multilateral institutions and the role major powers choose to play within them.