In a seismic shift for global governance, the administration of US President Donald Trump has initiated a sweeping withdrawal from dozens of international organisations, directly challenging the very world order America helped build after World War II. Through a series of executive orders issued this week, the United States has moved to exit 66 global bodies dealing with critical issues ranging from climate change and migration to gender rights.
The Foundation of the Post-War Order
To understand the magnitude of this move, one must look back to the 1940s. Even before the end of World War II, the United States took the lead in constructing a new framework for international cooperation. In July 1944, it hosted the Bretton Woods Conference in New Hampshire, leading to the creation of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These institutions were designed to prevent the destructive economic policies that caused the Great Depression.
Subsequently, in June 1945, the US convened the San Francisco conference that founded the United Nations. While these systems, including the UN and its many agencies, have had their flaws and the US itself has not always perfectly adhered to their principles, they have largely been a force for global stability and prosperity. For decades, despite occasional friction—like the US withdrawal from UNESCO under President Ronald Reagan in 1984—American support was a cornerstone of this international architecture.
The Unravelling Under Trump
The current administration's actions mark a decisive break from this tradition of reluctant but critical support. President Trump's rationale, as stated, is that American backing for these multilateral organisations no longer serves the national interest. This decision follows a pattern of unilateral actions that have strained the global system.
The global trading order has already been under assault since Trump's return to office in January 2024, with tariffs disrupting economies worldwide. The recent move goes beyond trade, targeting the political and normative pillars of international cooperation. This week's withdrawal orders came swiftly after another controversial event: the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces to stand trial in New York, an act widely seen as a blatant violation of international law and sovereignty.
Consequences for a Vulnerable World
The repercussions of this American retreat are already being felt and are expected to deepen. Cuts to US bilateral aid have already adversely impacted many nations across the Global South. The withdrawal from these 66 organisations will severely undermine their efficacy and funding.
No other major power currently possesses both the will and the capacity to fully replace American leadership. While China has surplus resources, its engagement is viewed as largely self-serving, lacking the normative commitment to sustain these institutions for global public good. The resulting vacuum threatens to make the world a harsher and more unjust place.
As noted by Sumit Ganguly of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, Trump's abrupt and callous decision to walk away from longstanding commitments risks the complete unravelling of the architectonic structures that have guided international relations for over 75 years. The world built by American vision in the 1940s now faces an existential threat from America's own choices in 2026.
