The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed regret over a White House announcement that the United States will withdraw from a number of UN agencies and offices.
In a statement, the UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said assessed contributions to the UN's regular budget and peacekeeping budget, as approved by the General Assembly, constitute a legal obligation under the UN Charter for all member states, including the United States.
He added that all UN bodies would continue to carry out the mandates given to them by member states, stressing that the organisation has a responsibility to serve people around the world who depend on its work and would do so with determination.
The United States has said it will take immediate steps to withdraw from dozens of international organisations, including 31 UN agencies and offices. An executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Wednesday lists bodies such as the UN Population Fund, which supports family planning and maternal and newborn health, the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and UN Women.
The order states that withdrawal would involve halting participation or funding, with President Trump arguing that continued US involvement in these organisations runs counter to American interests.
Reacting to the decision, the executive secretary of the UN climate convention, Simon Stiell, warned that stepping back from climate cooperation would harm the US economy. He said the United States had played a central role in shaping both the UN climate framework and the Paris Agreement because they aligned with its national interests.
