Trump's withdrawal from global bodies signals a new era in US foreign policy

The United State's decision to withdraw from 66 international organisations has been described as a political signal that rules and institutions matter less than the country's personal interests.

This is according to political analyst Professor Theo Neethling, who said this also reflects another shift away from multilateralism in favour of unilateral power projection under the President Donald Trump administration. 

This is after Trump announced that his administration has withdrawn from 66 international organisations to prioritise "America First" interests.

The organisations include key climate treaties, health bodies and a UN body that promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment. 

He said these organisations operate contrary to US national interests.

The move, which could affect nations from Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa, includes United Nations (UN) and non-UN commissions. 

Those directly impacting Africa include the Office of the Special Advisor on Africa, the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.

This follows a review ordered by Trump in February 2025, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in identifying the US commitments that were “wasteful, ineffective, and harmful” to its interests.

Neethling said this is also a direct leverage in world politics. 

"This means the US is strategically aiming to influence other nations’ policies and actions through economic, military and institutional power, by exploiting vulnerabilities and controlling critical resources such as trade routes, financial systems, or essential goods, exemplified by sanctions, aid, or controlling key network hubs to achieve specific political and economic goals."

Neethling said this will further weaken multilateral institutions. 

"The consequences, as far as international politics are concerned, are profound. Multilateral institutions will be further weakened, and not only financially. And remember the US is already in serious financial trouble, but international organisations will be further financially troubled,” said Neethling. 

He added that this means the international rules established after World War II would be eroded even further.

International relations expert, Professor John Stremlau, described Trump as someone who believes in a world where those with superior power, whether through physical strength, military force, or wealth, have the authority to determine what is moral, just, or legal. 

“And that is certainly not the way to go for the future,” he said. 

Political analyst and governance expert, Sandile Swana, said the US wants the freedom to act outside national laws, meaning they want to decide what becomes right and lawful to themselves, regardless of whether they are dealing with another nation. 

“They don’t want constraints on their sovereignty. They don’t want equity and equality, and they don’t want diversity and equality among nations,” said Swana, adding that the idea of multilateralism, the global order and the UN has to be championed by other nations, including the European Union, the African Union and the Latin American states.

In 2025, the Trump administration enacted sweeping cuts to global health funding, specifically targeting Africa and South Africa. These actions included the freezing and subsequent permanent cancellation of billions in foreign assistance, the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and significant reductions to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). 

The US skipped the annual UN international climate summit last year for the first time in three decades.

The US also refused to sign the final joint declaration of the G20 summit held in South Africa, due to the inclusion of climate change commitments and long-standing diplomatic tensions with South Africa. 

The Trump administration rejected the declaration's language regarding the “severity of climate change”, support for renewable energy, and the Paris Agreement. 

manyane.manyane@inl.co.za