UN spokesperson says the worldwide physique is ‘ready to see precisely when funds’ will likely be made by Washington.
Revealed On 9 Feb 2026
The United Nations has requested america for readability concerning unpaid funds dues, as declining US engagement places the worldwide organisation below rising pressure.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated on Monday that whereas the US ambassador, Mike Waltz, stated final week that funds would start inside weeks, no additional particulars had been provided.
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“We’ve seen the statements, and admittedly, the secretary-general has been in contact for fairly a while on this situation with Ambassador Waltz,” Dujarric stated throughout a information briefing.
“Our [budget] controller has been in contact with the US; indications got. We’re ready to see precisely when funds will likely be made and in what quantities,” he added.
UN officers have stated that unpaid charges from the US account for about 95 p.c of all excellent UN funds dues, because the administration of President Donald Trump decreases US involvement in worldwide organisations.
UN chief Antonio Guterres warned in a January letter that the worldwide physique faces “imminent monetary collapse” on account of unpaid membership dues.
The US owed the UN about $2.19bn by the beginning of February, together with one other $2.4bn for peacekeeping missions and $43.6m for UN tribunals. UN officers have stated that the US didn’t pay $827m for the funds final yr, and has not paid $767m for 2026.
The US and its prime ally, Israel, have steadily criticised the UN and sought to undermine its companies, which they are saying are in opposition to their nationwide pursuits.
The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk, stated final week that his workplace was in “survival mode” amid funds shortfalls. The Trump administration reduce off contributions to the company in 2025.
Turk’s workplace has steadily issued important experiences about extreme rights abuses by Israeli forces in opposition to Palestinians that the US and Israel have denounced.
Waltz stated final week that the UN would see a “important” fee in direction of the US dues quickly, telling the Reuters information company that “you’ll actually see an preliminary tranche of cash very shortly”.
“Simply typically, in direction of the arrears, and likewise in recognition of a number of the reforms that we’ve seen,” he stated.
Final yr, the Trump administration launched a National Security Strategy, which asserted that the “world’s basic political unit is and can stay the nation-state”, not worldwide organisations.
The US has traditionally been the most important donor to the UN and its programmes.
Nonetheless, some conservatives from Trump’s Republican Occasion view the organisation as a hindrance to US world dominance, and worldwide guidelines and rules as a risk to the nation’s sovereignty.
