Trump cuts US backing to international bodies with projects that affect the Canary Islands
US President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum ordering the immediate withdrawal of US political support and funding from 66 international organisations, including United Nations bodies and independent multilateral forums. While the decision is framed by the White House as a move to protect “national interests”, it could have knock-on effects for the Canary Islands.
A review of the organisations affected shows that at least four have direct or indirect links to projects, studies or networks involving the Canaries, particularly in conservation, gender equality and energy transition.
Environmental and conservation concerns
One of the organisations affected is the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a key player in global biodiversity policy. The IUCN has supported initiatives that include the Canary Islands, especially in areas such as protecting endemic pollinators and tackling invasive species. The archipelago has been treated as a priority region alongside the Azores and Madeira.
While US funding cuts will not automatically stop these programmes, they could weaken their financial stability and international influence at a critical time for island biodiversity.
UN Women and the Canary Islands’ role
The decision also affects UN Women, which has operational links to the Canary Islands. From the islands, UN Women helps coordinate the African-Spanish Women’s Network for a Better World, reinforcing the Canaries’ role as a bridge between Europe and Africa.
The loss of US funding raises uncertainty over the long-term sustainability of some of these cooperation networks, even though they also rely on support from other countries and institutions.
Sustainability and energy transition
Another organisation impacted is the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The agency has produced recent reports using the Canary Islands as a case study for renewable energy in island systems, including desalination, climate resilience and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
IRENA considers the Canaries a testing ground for energy policies that could be applied to other isolated territories worldwide.
A global decision with local effects
Although the US move does not immediately halt projects linked to the Canary Islands, it introduces uncertainty into organisations that play a role in environmental protection, equality initiatives and green transition policies.
For a region that has positioned itself internationally as a hub between Europe, Africa and the Americas, and as a pilot territory for sustainability, the decision highlights how global political shifts can have very real local consequences.
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