In a significant diplomatic shift, the United States has officially withdrawn its membership from a total of 66 international organisations and treaties. This sweeping move, confirmed by the US State Department, includes the prominent International Solar Alliance (ISA), a landmark initiative spearheaded by India and France to promote solar energy globally.
A Strategic Pullback from Global Engagement
The decision, which has been in motion since the previous US administration, represents a calculated step back from multilateral engagements. The State Department's report to Congress, titled "Report on the Participation of the United States in International Organizations," formally lists all the entities from which the US has exited. While the Trump administration initiated this process, the current Biden administration has allowed these withdrawals to stand, making them official policy.
The most notable exit is from the International Solar Alliance (ISA), launched in 2015 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then French President Francois Hollande. Headquartered in Gurugram, India, the ISA's core mission is to massively scale up solar energy deployment, especially in sun-rich countries located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. The US had joined the ISA as a member country in November 2021, during the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, but its membership was short-lived.
What the Withdrawal Entails
The US departure from these organisations is not merely symbolic. It involves ceasing financial contributions, withdrawing diplomatic personnel assigned to these bodies, and halting active participation in their governance and programs. For the ISA, this means the loss of a major economy and potential source of technological and financial support for its ambitious goals.
Other organisations on the extensive exit list reportedly include various United Nations bodies, cultural and educational agreements, and other international treaties. The State Department's rationale, as historically presented, centers on a cost-benefit analysis, questioning the value and effectiveness of US membership in each entity.
Implications for Global Climate and Diplomacy
The withdrawal from the International Solar Alliance carries particular weight for global climate action. The ISA is a key platform for mobilizing over $1 trillion in investments for solar energy by 2030 and facilitating the transfer of technology to developing nations. The absence of the world's largest economy and a major technological powerhouse is a substantial blow to the alliance's reach and resource pool.
For India, which has positioned itself as a global leader in renewable energy and climate diplomacy, the US exit from an India-founded institution is diplomatically significant. It underscores the challenges of sustaining multilateral cooperation in a geopolitically divided world. However, the ISA continues to grow, with over 120 countries signatory to its framework agreement. France and India remain its leading pillars, driving the agenda forward.
Analysts suggest this move reflects a broader American foreign policy trend of prioritizing bilateral deals and "America First" considerations over traditional multilateralism. The continuity of this policy across administrations indicates a bipartisan reassessment of how the US engages with international institutions.
The Path Forward Without the US
Despite the US withdrawal, the International Solar Alliance and other affected bodies are expected to continue their operations. The ISA's focus will likely intensify on collaboration among its remaining member states, the European Union, and the private sector. The incident highlights the evolving landscape of global governance, where new, focused coalitions like the ISA face the test of navigating great power politics.
The long-term consequences of this mass withdrawal remain to be seen. It could create a vacuum in global leadership that other nations, including India and European powers, may seek to fill, particularly in areas like climate change and sustainable development. The move undoubtedly reshapes the architecture of international cooperation for the coming decade.
