Washington: The United States announced Tuesday its decision to pull out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization two years after rejoining.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the withdrawal was due to what Washington saw as the UN cultural agency's policy to "advance divisive social and cultural causes" over the Israel-Palestine conflicts. The U.S. State Department highlighted that UNESCO's decision to admit the "State of Palestine" as a member state was highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.

The U.S. exit from UNESCO is set to take effect at the end of December 2026.