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Education International notes the lamentable, misguided, and dangerous decision of the Trump Administration to withdraw from 66 international entities that foster global cooperation. Trump's claim that multilateral cooperation and international law are contrary to national interests is false and harmful to both the United States and the world.

Education International represents over 33 million educators across 180 countries and territories, including millions of teachers and education support personnel in the United States through our member organisations, the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers.

As the teachers of the world, we are dedicated to the well-being and flourishing of all our students and communities. We strongly believe that international cooperation, universal principles, and binding treaties are the mortar that holds together our common security.

"By turning away from the global community during a time of mounting conflict, extremism, climate disasters, and displacement, the Trump Administration is choosing to abandon our collective responsibility to the future of our planet and children," stated Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association.

"Multilateralism and international cooperation – enshrined through the critical function of many of these organizations – protect the universal right to education that all children deserve. The NEA stands in unwavering solidarity with educators and unionists around the world as we fight for our shared humanity. We refuse to back down from our commitment to universal human rights, accountability, and a just future for our planet,” she added.

History teaches that the United Nations represents humanity's will to bring together our collective knowledge and resolve to address global issues peacefully and effectively. No country, no matter how powerful, can afford to ignore this lesson.

“Educators know our classrooms don’t exist in isolation—and neither should our nations. Walking away from international cooperation undermines the very principles of shared responsibility and solidarity that keep our world safe and ensure a more just future for our students,” reiterated Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.

"These agreements grew out of two world wars that cost millions of people their lives, including thousands of American servicemembers. Why not learn from history? Ironically, this so called “America first” agenda will hurt Americans first.”

It is destabilising and dangerous for the U.S. - one of the main architects of the international system – to now refuse to abide by the rules it helped establish, take what it wants by force, and act without legitimacy as part of an extreme nationalist agenda.

The educators of the United States were instrumental in founding Education International and the United Nations because they saw the world as our common home that we must carefully steward and preserve for future generations.

Educators around the world stand with our colleagues in the United States who are resisting the Trump Administration’s attempt to return to the dark age of might makes right at home and abroad. Together, our global education union movement will continue to protect and advance universal human rights, multilateralism, international law, and global cooperation for a peaceful and just world for all.