As UN grapples with cash crisis don’t expect China to fill the gap, experts say
United Nations chief has warned of financial collapse due to unpaid fees, a situation also said to reflect a shift in how US sees the body
In a rare letter addressed to all 193 member states, Guterres urged governments to honour their mandatory payments or consider overhauling the UN’s financial rules to avoid further disruption.
Despite more than 150 member states having paid their dues for 2025, total arrears have climbed to US$1.56 billion – double the amount recorded in 2024.
UN officials said the US – the organisation’s largest contributor – owed about US$2.19 billion to the regular budget and had not paid an additional US$2.4 billion in peacekeeping contributions.
Washington, which accounts for 22 per cent of the UN’s core budget, has also withdrawn from several UN agencies, describing them as a waste of taxpayer money.