United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has voiced concern over the United States’ decision to pull out of several UN agencies, underscoring that mandatory financial contributions to the organisation are required under international law.
In a statement released on Thursday by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres reacted to the White House’s announcement, describing the move as regrettable.
“The Secretary-General regrets the announcement by the White House regarding the United States’ decision to withdraw from a number of United Nations entities,” the statement said.
Guterres stressed that budgetary commitments endorsed by the UN General Assembly are not optional, but legally binding on all member states.
“As we have consistently underscored, assessed contributions to the United Nations regular budget and peacekeeping budget, as approved by the General Assembly, are a legal obligation under the UN Charter for all Member States, including the United States,” he added.
Despite the development, the UN chief assured that the organisation would continue to operate and fulfil its responsibilities without interruption.
“All United Nations entities will go on with the implementation of their mandates as given by Member States,” he said.
Reiterating the global mission of the UN, Guterres noted, “The United Nations has a responsibility to deliver for those who depend on us. We will continue to carry out our mandates with determination.”
A similar message was shared on the UN’s official X account, which stated: “António Guterres regrets the announcement regarding the United States’ decision to withdraw from a number of United Nations entities. The UN has a responsibility to deliver for those who depend on us. We will continue to carry out our mandates with determination.”
The New Daily Prime reported Trump directed the United States to pull out of 66 international organisations, marking one of the most far-reaching retreats from multilateral engagement in recent US history.
The decision, announced on Wednesday, was confirmed in a White House Fact Sheet dated January 7, 2026, which stated that Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum ordering the withdrawals as part of a broader effort to realign America’s foreign commitments with what the administration describes as core national interests.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organisations that no longer serve American interests,” the White House said.
Under the directive, all executive departments and agencies have been instructed to halt participation in and funding for 35 non-United Nations organisations and 31 UN-related entities. The administration said the affected bodies operate “contrary to US national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty.”
The move followed a comprehensive review launched earlier in the year that examined “all international intergovernmental organisations, conventions, and treaties that the United States is a member of or party to, or that the United States funds or supports.”
According to the White House, the aim is to stop US taxpayer money from supporting institutions it believes prioritise global objectives over American needs.
“These withdrawals will end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over U.S. priorities, or that address important issues inefficiently or ineffectively such that U.S. taxpayer dollars are best allocated in other ways,” the statement said.
