Why the United States is Rejoining UNESCO

Back in 2017, the Trump administration announced that the United States would formally leave UNESCO, the UN’s education, science and cultural organization. When the Biden administration came to office it promised to reverse course and rejoin UNESCO.  On June 12 this year it announced a plan to do just that.

Joining me to discuss America’s complicated relationship with UNESCO and explain why the Biden administration is seeking to rejoin is Peter Yeo, President of the Better World Campaign and Senior Vice President at the United Nations Foundation.  We kick off discussing what exactly UNESCO does and how it supports American interests before having a longer conversation about the recent fraught history between UNESCO and the United States. Peter Yeo then explains the process by which the Biden administration is seeking to rejoin UNESCO, which includes a plan to pay back arrears the United States owes to UNESCO.

To listen to this episode on your favorite podcast player, go here. 

Transcript