US move to quit UNESCO sparks worldwide defence of multilateralism

The United States decision to withdraw from UNESCO, the United Nations agency responsible for culture, education and science, has drawn a swift and broad international response, with voices across the globe urging renewed commitment to multilateral institutions.

The announcement rekindled longstanding debates about the role of international bodies in addressing shared global challenges, with many nations arguing that collective frameworks remain indispensable in an era of mounting cross-border crises.

The reaction underscores the anxiety felt in diplomatic circles over the potential weakening of the multilateral order at a moment when global cooperation on issues ranging from climate to conflict resolution is widely seen as more critical than ever.