Washington’s further retreat from multilateral institutions has dealt “a heavy blow” to an already fractured global governance system, presenting both opportunities and challenges for Beijing, according to analysts.
Observers said US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from 66 international organisations would have lasting consequences for American leadership around the world, accentuating power gaps in critical areas such as climate and security.
On Thursday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning described Washington’s continued pullback from multilateralism as “no longer news” yet warned that it risked undermining the foundations of global governance centred on the United Nations
Only a functioning multilateral system could prevent “the spread of the law of the jungle” and a return to “might makes right” and “force is justice”, Mao said.
On Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order suspending American support for 66 organisations, agencies and commissions, including 31 UN agencies and 35 others unaffiliated with the world body “that operate contrary to US national interests, security, economic prosperity or sovereignty”, according to a White House statement.
Many of the targeted bodies focus on climate, labour, migration and other issues the Trump administration has accused of catering to diversity and “woke” initiatives.
Law_of_the_jungle on January 9th, 2026 at 04:48 UTC »
I am inevitable
anemic_royaltea on January 9th, 2026 at 03:50 UTC »
Things were getting better and better for quite a good while there, but I guess if the wealthiest among us see the writing on the wall for the unsustainable future of endless growth, best to stoke prejudices and get all you can while the getting’s good.
There is no need for any war but class war.
CommercialFormal7614 on January 9th, 2026 at 02:58 UTC »
This is probably a dumb question but how do you guys get around these “soft paywalls”?
Edit: thanks for the replies