According to the New York Times, President Donald Trump is preparing decrees to radically reduce UN funding and to remove the United States from multilateral treaties.
If confirmed, the decision would affect many UN agencies that depend on billions of dollars in US funding for tasks such as aid to refugees or peacekeeping.
The president is ready to eliminate funding from UN agencies or international organizations that support abortion and recognize the Palestinian Authority or the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) .
It also calls for an end to the funding of agencies or organizations that promote any activity that evade sanctions imposed on Iran and North Korea, or that are controlled or influenced by states considered “sponsors of terrorism.”
The United States is the country that contributes the most to the UN: it is responsible for 22% of its operating budget and finances 28% of its 16 peace missions, which cost $ 7.8 billion each year.
A second decree calls for a revision of all existing and pending multilateral treaties that are not directly related to national security, extradition or international trade.
This could affect the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Trump openly questioned climate change and he promised in its campaign he will reverse US commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make a transition to a greener economy.