A Seat at the Table: Why U.S. Leadership is Needed in International Organizations

The Trump administration this year launched a review of U.S. participation across a wide range of international organizations. This kind of 360-degree assessment can be invaluable, and in the case of some organizations it’s probably overdue. For example, UN bodies that scrutinize human rights should not be led by representatives of countries with widely-criticized human rights records, and this will inevitably affect U.S. support.  

However, the United States has long benefited from taking a leadership role in international organizations that are critical to advancing standards relevant to international business. American interests are best represented when U.S. officials vigorously press for priorities established by the White House and Congress to be adopted by these international bodies.  

Further, the cost of withdrawing from or defunding key international organizations could be high for American business and U.S. interests more broadly.

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