U.S. exit 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 drawn sharp reactions from across the international community.

Governments and international bodies around the world have responded by calling for a renewed commitment to multilateralism, arguing that global challenges require coordinated collective action rather than unilateral retreat from established institutions.

The decision has reignited debate over the future of the rules-based international order, with many nations stressing that bodies such as UNESCO remain essential to addressing shared cultural, scientific and humanitarian concerns in an increasingly complex world.