Amnesty International Condemns US Exit from 66 Global Treaties as Vindictive Assault
Amnesty International slammed the United States government on Thursday for initiating a withdrawal from 66 international agreements and organizations. The human rights group described the mass exit as a calculated effort to dismantle the rules-based global order, officials specifically cited the move as a necessary step to protect national sovereignty against wasteful bureaucracy.
Executive Order Initiated Review of Global Ties
This massive geopolitical shift stems from an executive order signed in February 2025, the directive mandated a comprehensive audit of all intergovernmental relationships to determine their value to the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the decision by characterizing many of the targeted entities as "anti-American" or financially wasteful, the administration seeks to stop subsidizing groups it believes undermine national interests. This approach aligns with a broader "America First" foreign policy, the strategy prioritizes bilateral deals over multilateral commitments that officials argue compromise American sovereignty.
Washington Targets UN Agencies and Climate Pacts
The State Department formally launched the withdrawal process on January 7, the list includes 31 distinct United Nations agencies along with major environmental treaties. Key targets include the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the administration also finalized its exit from the World Health Organization following complaints regarding pandemic management. Erika Guevara Rosas of Amnesty International criticized the scope of these departures, she noted that the list includes the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent in what she termed an act of "institutional sabotage."
Human Rights Bodies Face Funding Cuts
The exodus extends to critical social welfare organizations, funding will cease for the UN Population Fund which supports maternal health and gender equality efforts worldwide. Amnesty International argues these specific cuts demonstrate a callous disregard for international law, the group contends that leaving these bodies effectively abandons vulnerable populations who rely on global aid programs.
Global Governance Faces Credibility and Funding Crisis
Critics warn that removing American financial and diplomatic support will create a power vacuum in global governance, the loss of funding threatens to destabilize operations for peacekeeping and climate resilience projects. Environmental experts fear the exit from the Paris Agreement will trigger a "race to the bottom" in carbon regulation, this could reverse a decade of progress toward emission reduction goals. The United States risks deepening its international isolationism, observers suggest this reduced leverage may hinder the nation's ability to influence future global standards.
Amnesty International is urging other nations to increase their support for these institutions to fill the gap left by Washington, legal experts note the US remains liable for climate damages under international law regardless of treaty membership.
