Concerned about China’s influence, US set to rejoin UNESCO after 4 years: A lowdown

Rewind: The US had officially quit UNESCO from 1 January 2019 after President Donald Trump’s government denounced the agency for having an “anti-Israel” bias. Israel had followed suit and backed out of UNESCO at the same time. Both the US and Israel had stopped paying dues after Palestine was voted in as a member state in 2011.

The details: After rejoining in July, the US government plans to pay its 2023 dues plus $10 million in bonus contributions this year earmarked for Holocaust education, preserving cultural heritage in Ukraine, journalist safety, and science and technology education in Africa, said US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma in a letter to Azoulay, news agency AP reported.

The Joe Biden administration has also requested $150 million for the 2024 budget to go toward UNESCO dues and arrears. The plan foresees similar requests in the next few years until the full debt of $619 million is paid off.

UNESCO’s response: “It’s a historic moment for UNESCO,” Director-General Azoulay said while announcing the US’s decision. “It’s also an important day for multilateralism.″

What stood out: China’s ambassador, Jin Yang, expressed hope that the US’s move meant that it was serious about multilateralism. “Being a member of an international organization is a serious issue, and we hope that the return of the U.S. this time means it acknowledges the mission and the goals of the organization,” he was quoted as saying.

What’s next: The US’s decision to return will face a vote by UNESCO’s member states in the coming weeks. The poll, however, is expected to be a mere formality as Monday’s announcement was met with widespread applause from the member states.

(With AP inputs)