US evading responsibility by exiting global organizations

The United States appears to be following a new "global exit policy" of quitting international organizations and obligations, not only creating widespread uncertainty and displeasure among communities and nations, but also demonstrating its irresponsibility as a major power.

Starting from day one of the new administration, the US seems to have adopted a "new normal" of exiting international obligations. After a presidential announcement in the inauguration speech, the US is withdrawing from the World Health Organization for the second time in a decade.

The US failed badly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ongoing US preferential health policy has endangered the universal health assistance program, showing its partisan national narrative based on self-claimed protectionism to marginalize the global fight against deadly diseases and health disasters.

Additionally, the White House announced its serious intention of withdrawing from the United Nations Human Rights Council, accusing it of adopting biased policies against Israel, despite 17 months of catastrophes in Gaza backed by Washington.

Moreover, the US government planned to extend its halt on funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, confirming its biased and obvious political support for Israel's moves in Gaza and in the Middle East.

Even Volker Turk, the UN human rights chief, expressed deep concern about a fundamental shift in direction by the US, warning that divisive rhetoric is being used to deceive and polarize people. Indeed, such US moves are hurting humanity and eroding the global governance system based on equality, mutual respect and the rule of law.

Speculations are rife that the US administration is going to quit the World Trade Organization as a logical conclusion to its ongoing spree of imposing tariffs. The US has already paralyzed the dispute settlement mechanism of WTO for years.

While no official decision has yet been made, experts believe that the US administration may use the threat of withdrawal as leverage to reshape global trade rules in accordance with its "America First" vision, which would be a huge blow to the international trading system, global supply chains and investment.

It is being aired in the Western media that the US administration may evaluate its role in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in the near future. A future US decision to cut or suspend its funding or even withdraw would be a big blow to developing and underdeveloped economies seeking loans while shaking global economic governance.

It is warned that economic globalization, international cooperation, openness and digitalization would be in real danger in the days to come because of the US' unprofessional and inconsistent policies.

Even the global fight against climate change and bid to ensure biodiversity, green transformation and artificial intelligence governance would be weakened because of the unfriendly and harsh US attitude.

The US' climate measures could have an impact on its macroeconomy, hurting its own green transformation and badly affecting small island nations.

Worse, the US' refusal to sign the Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet, adopted at the AI Action Summit held in Paris in February, is putting world peace and prosperity in peril, as the US hosts databases of the internet and much of the world is using AI tools provided by US-based companies. Only the shock of DeepSeek portends a much more inclusive and promising path of AI development for the international community.

On the other hand, China has observed the Global AI Governance Initiative, offering an open, inclusive and fair approach to the development, security and governance of emerging AI technologies and services, showing its strong commitment to safeguarding the best interest of the international community.

The US' unbalanced foreign policy, prejudiced social preferences, protective economic priorities and above all self-centric diplomatic conduct are pushing it toward eventual isolation, while badly disturbing international economic and trading systems and rules-based global governance.

The US' decisions to withdraw from some vital UN organizations and programs are pushing it into a blind alley in an increasingly interconnected international system, and creating potential consequences particularly for joint efforts to combat epidemics, ensure human rights, financial assistance and community building around the globe.

Since we are living in a connected multilateral world heavily relying on mutual cooperation, the US should come out of its deep slumber and start cooperating with the international community to achieve win-win propositions for all. Otherwise its behavior would deliver nothing but complete embarrassment.

The author is president of Pak-China Corridor of Knowledge and executive director of the Islamabad-based Center for South Asia and International Studies.