Donald Trump’s administration is turning away from numerous international organizations. This also has consequences for Switzerland.
Jan 13, 2026, 11:01 p.mJan 13, 2026, 11:01 p.m
Christoph Bernet / ch media
“America first”: This is one of the central pillars of US President Donald Trump’s political ideology. This is expressed, among other things, in a reluctance to cooperate with other countries within international organizations.
No friend of multilateralism: Donald Trump speaks at the UN General Assembly.Image: keystone
On Wednesday, Trump drove in another stake here: by decree, he decided to withdraw the United States from 66 international organizations, authorities and commissions. For example, they are committed to health care, fair educational opportunities or climate protection. The reason for the withdrawal: The organizations concerned would “run counter to the interests of the USA”.
Some of them, such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), have their headquarters or important offices in international Geneva. Organizations not affiliated with the UN, such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), headquartered in Gland VD, are also affected.
The UN headquarters in Geneva.Image: AP
The formal withdrawal of the USA is a development that Trump had already announced when he took office at the end of January 2025. Trump has since stopped or drastically reduced financial support for many of the 66 organizations on the White House list.
The withdrawal of the United States, which had previously been the largest donor to many international organizations, is particularly hard on international Geneva. Without the money from Washington, they will have to scale back activities and lay off staff.
Federal Council gives Geneva a helping hand
This is also why the Federal Council decided in June 2025 to help international Geneva with 269 million francs over the next three years. The state government wanted to set an example for multilateralism, which is currently increasingly threatened in the world, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told the media at the time. He described Geneva as “a calling card for Switzerland” and the federal funds as an “investment in the future of a world order that is based on the strength of law, on rules and on humanity”.
Federal Councilor and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.Image: keystone
According to the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), the responsible federal agencies are tracking and analyzing the latest decisions by the United States and their possible impact on international organizations based in Switzerland. International Geneva plays a central role in multilateralism and international cooperation and is “of great importance for the perception of Switzerland as a host state”.
According to the FDFA, the Federal Council is monitoring the situation closely: “If necessary, it will examine suitable measures within the framework of the existing instruments in order to continue to ensure the attractiveness and functionality of international Geneva.” (aargauerzeitung.ch)
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