The US UN envoy Nikki Haley and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are set make the announcement later on Tuesday.

Ms Haley last year accused the council of “chronic anti-Israel bias” and said the US was reviewing its membership.

Formed in 2006, the council has been criticised for allowing countries with questionable human rights records to be members.

UN officials have not commented on the expected US announcement. “We will wait to hear the details of that decision before commenting further,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

The reported move comes amid intense criticism over the Trump administration’s policy of separating child migrants from their parents at the US-Mexico border.