New Delhi, Jan. 8 -- In a setback for the India-backed International Solar Alliance (ISA), the United States has withdrawn its membership from the multilateral body that focuses on accelerating global solar energy adoption. The exit is part of a broader US move to pull out of 65 international organizations that the Trump administration has characterized as "wasteful, ineffective, and harmful".

The withdrawal is significant as ISA is the first multilateral organization promoted by India, with the aim of strengthening the country's position as the voice of the Global South and countering China's geopolitical influence, primarily among African and Latin American nations. India currently holds the presidency of the organization through union...