Vivarium Group

The United Nations is one of the most widely recognized institutions in the world, bringing together more than 190 nations. The bright blue of the UN has become an international symbol, quickly recognized on flags, boxes of aid, or on military uniforms. The United Nations brings nations together to tackle complex global problems with a complex and global solution. Every day the United Nations works to create and enforce trade and regulatory agreements, peace agreements, aid distribution, scientific collaboration, and more. Joining the UN brings a state into this wide network of resources, that includes major economic institutions like the IMF and WTO. 

The UN isn’t always thought of in such a positive light. It took Switzerland over 50 years to join! The United States has just pulled out of several large organizations within the UN, in a move seeming to distance the world power from the UN. This is not the first UN skeptic move from the United States. In the early 2010’s there were new calls for the United States to leave the UN. With the Trump administration being more transactional and isolationist in nature, this piece seeks to explore the potential for a US withdrawal, not only from the security council, but from the United Nations as a whole. 

Could the US seek to withdraw from the United Nations as a whole? There may be an attempt by either Mr. Trump or his allies to remove the US. No country has ever withdrawn from the nearly 80 year history of the institution. There have been attempts to leave and even attempts to expel members. The issue is that there is no formal mechanism to leave the UN. The UN Charter does provide insight into when a member state can be expelled.  Article 6 of the UN Charter reads as “A Member of the United Nations which has persistently violated the Principles contained in the present Charter may be expelled from the Organization by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.” However, this article has never been invoked despite the numerous opportunities that have presented themselves. In most recent history, there were calls by the US media to suspend or expel Russia from the UN due to its invasion of Ukraine. 

There was one instance of a country attempting to withdraw from the UN. Indonesia did intend to withdraw from the UN in 1965. A formal letter was submitted to the General Assembly stating Indonesia’s intent to withdraw from the organization. However, Indonesia would go through a violent change in government later that year. The government that would later rise to power would reverse course and remain a part of the UN. Ultimately, Indonesia is still a member of the UN and one of the emerging economies of the world. 

A formal withdrawal from the United Nations is extremely unlikely for any state, let alone a permanent member of the security council. There is one option that the Trump administration could pursue to further distance the US from the transnational organization. The United States could withdraw any and all funding from the United Nations, and even go as far as to stop sending and form of representation. The Trump administration has shown a propensity to withhold funding to various departments and organizations in just the first few weeks. This nuclear option has not been gaining any sort of meaningful traction, but it remains an option. No one can say for certain how the halls of the General Assembly would feel without an American presence, but there would be a large absence that is sure to be felt.