The assault on multilateralism and international law

The mantra of 'America First' is shaping U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, marking a significant turning point for multilateralism and international law.

- 

Since the beginning of his second term, a series of measures have signalled the U.S.'s withdrawal from the very multilateral institutions and agreements it once helped establish. These include calls for withdrawal from key entities such as the World Health Organization, the UNHRC, and the Paris Climate Agreement and sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its officials.

The most recent addition in this series is the introduction of the Disengaging Entirely from the United Nations Debacle (DEFUND) Act by Republican Senator Mike Lee from Utah, which would allow the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations. The new American approach has serious consequences for an international order based on multilateral cooperation and respect for international law.