The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization issued a press release Tuesday confirming that it will discuss the return of the United States to its committee at the end of the month.
"In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, an extraordinary session of the UNESCO General Conference — the governing body that brings together all 193 Member States of the Organization — has been convened by the Director-General at the request of more than one-third of Member States," the release read. "This session will be held from Thursday, 29 June (3 p.m.) to Friday, 30 June (6 p.m.)."
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This comes after UNESCO received a letter from the U.S. State Department announcing the country's intention to rejoin. Director-General Audrey Azoulay called the special session vote on June 12, four days after the letter was sent.
During the meeting, the member states will deliberate on the proposal made by the U.S. and will determine "the basis of a concrete financial plan."
This plan will likely include the allotted over $540 million from Congress toward the debt it owed to UNESCO since then-President Barack Obama stopped paying dues in 2011. The State Department is permitted to use the money until fall 2025, when it will expire as Azoulay's term ends. Once the debts collected between 2011 and 2017 are paid, it will cost the U.S. roughly $100 million a year to remain a voting member.
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The U.S. completely withdrew from UNESCO in 2017 during then-President Donald Trump's administration. It was the second time the country had withdrawn.
Israel is not a UNESCO member state since it also left shortly after the U.S. withdrew in 2017. Palestine, however, has been a member since 2011.