The head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken pleaded on Wednesday for the return of the United States to UNESCO in order to counter China in particular.
"
I really think we should go back to Unesco
," said the Secretary of State before a parliamentary commission.
“
Not to give them a gift, but because what happens there really matters
”, he said, citing in particular the debates within the Paris-based organization on artificial intelligence or in education.
The United States had withdrawn under former President Donald Trump from the UN's education, science and culture agency in late 2018, in retaliation for a bias it said was anti-Israel.
They had already suspended payment of their dues in 2011 when the Palestinians became members.
Read alsoThe United States and Israel withdraw from UNESCO
“
China is now the biggest contributor to Unesco
”, noted Antony Blinken and “
we are not even at the table.
It's important that we go back
."
The US State Department has requested $150 million to fund this eventual return in the Biden administration's 2024 budget proposal, which was recently submitted to Congress for approval.
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