US Rejoins UNESCO and Settles Back Dues to Counter Chinese Influence

On Monday, UNESCO announced that the United States intends to rejoin the cultural and scientific agency of the United Nations. After a decade-long dispute triggered by UNESCO’s inclusion of Palestine as a member, the US plans to pay over $600 million in outstanding dues. The decision to return was motivated by the US officials’ concerns about China’s increasing influence in UNESCO policymaking, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence standards and global technology education.

The upcoming weeks will see a vote by UNESCO’s member states on this move, but approval appears to be a formality given the resounding applause that followed the announcement at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris. Notably, not a single country objected to the return of the US, once the largest contributor to the agency.

Following UNESCO’s decision to admit Palestine as a member state in 2011, the US and Israel ceased their financial support. The Trump administration later chose to withdraw entirely from the agency in 2018, citing ongoing anti-Israel bias and managerial issues.

Since her election as UNESCO’s director general in 2017, Audrey Azoulay has worked to address these concerns, and her efforts seem to have paid off. She described the decision as a historic moment for UNESCO and a significant day for multilateralism.

Richard Verma, the US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, formalized the plan to rejoin by submitting a letter to Azoulay last week. The letter, obtained by AP, acknowledges progress in depoliticizing Middle East debates and reforming the agency’s management.

This decision provides a substantial boost to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, renowned for its World Heritage program, climate change initiatives, and efforts to promote literacy among girls.

While the trigger for the US fallout with UNESCO was the admission of Palestine, the decision to return primarily revolves around countering China’s growing influence. Undersecretary of State for Management John Bass stated in March that the US absence from UNESCO had bolstered China and weakened their ability to promote their vision of a free world effectively.

It is important to note that the US decision does not address the status of Palestine. Despite being a member of UNESCO, the Palestinians are further away from independence than ever, with no serious peace talks in over a decade and a new Israeli government consisting of hardliners opposed to Palestinian independence.

The Palestinian ambassador to UNESCO did not comment on the US decision, and China’s ambassador, Jin Yang, was the only envoy who did not shower it with praise. Jin Yang acknowledged the negative impact of the US absence and expressed hope that the move demonstrates Washington’s commitment to multilateralism.

Azoulay, UNESCO’s director, who is Jewish, received widespread praise for her personal efforts to foster consensus among Jordanian, Palestinian, and Israeli diplomats regarding sensitive UNESCO resolutions. She also engaged with Democrats and Republicans in Congress to explain her diplomatic initiatives. Through bipartisan negotiations, she expressed confidence that the US decision to return is long-term, regardless of the outcome of the next presidential election.

According to Verma’s letter, under the plan, the US government will pay its 2023 dues along with $10 million in bonus contributions for this year. These funds will be allocated to Holocaust education, preservation of cultural heritage in Ukraine, journalist safety, and science and technology education in Africa.

The Biden administration has already requested $150 million for the 2024 budget to cover UNESCO dues and arrears. Similar requests are expected in subsequent years until the total debt of $619 million is paid off.

This payment represents a significant portion of UNESCO’s annual operating budget of $534 million. Before its withdrawal, the US contributed 22% of the agency’s overall funding.

A UNESCO diplomat expressed hope that the

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