Washington: The United States has announced its withdrawal from 66 international organisations, including the India-led International Solar Alliance (ISA), with President Donald Trump’s administration calling these bodies “wasteful, ineffective, or harmful” to American interests.
The decision was confirmed through a statement issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, following an executive order signed by President Trump. The order mandated a detailed review of all international institutions that receive US funding or participation, assessing whether their work aligns with Washington’s national priorities.
According to the State Department, the review concluded that several of these organisations were redundant, poorly managed, or driven by agendas that do not serve American interests. The statement said the administration would no longer allow US taxpayer money to be spent on institutions that, in its view, benefit foreign interests at the expense of domestic priorities.
The list of organisations includes major United Nations-linked bodies such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UN Women, and the UN Human Settlements Programme. It also covers prominent non-UN institutions, including the International Renewable Energy Agency, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The exit from the International Solar Alliance is expected to draw particular diplomatic attention. The ISA, jointly launched by India and France and headquartered in Gurugram, focuses on promoting solar energy adoption, especially in developing countries. It has been widely viewed as a key platform for global climate cooperation between the Global North and Global South.
The move comes amid growing global concern over climate change, with experts warning that reduced multilateral cooperation could weaken international efforts to tackle environmental challenges. Diplomatic sources noted that the decision may place strain on clean energy cooperation between Washington and New Delhi, although the US is likely to continue bilateral renewable energy engagements outside the ISA framework.
In the executive order, President Trump said the review of other international organisations is still underway and reiterated that the US would not continue investing resources or diplomatic influence in institutions it considers misaligned with national interests.
While the decision reflects the administration’s “America First” policy, critics argue that it risks further isolating the US from global platforms addressing shared challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, and gender equality.
