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 the US for readability concerning unpaid finances dues, as declining US engagement places the worldwide organisation beneath rising pressure.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric mentioned on Monday that whereas the US ambassador, Mike Waltz, mentioned 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 difficulty with Ambassador Waltz,” Dujarric mentioned 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 mentioned that unpaid charges from the US account for about 95 % of all excellent UN finances 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 mentioned that the US didn’t pay $827m for the finances final 12 months, and has not paid $767m for 2026.
The US and its high ally, Israel, have continuously criticised the UN and sought to undermine its businesses, which they are saying are in opposition to their nationwide pursuits.
The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk, mentioned final week that his workplace was in “survival mode” amid finances shortfalls. The Trump administration minimize off contributions to the company in 2025.
Turk’s workplace has continuously issued crucial experiences about extreme rights abuses by Israeli forces in opposition to Palestinians that the US and Israel have denounced.
Waltz mentioned final week that the UN would see a “important” cost in direction of the US dues quickly, telling the Reuters information company that “you’ll definitely see an preliminary tranche of cash very shortly”.
“Simply usually, in direction of the arrears, and in addition in recognition of a few of the reforms that we’ve seen,” he mentioned.
Final 12 months, the Trump administration launched a National Security Strategy, which asserted that the “world’s elementary political unit is and can stay the nation-state”, not worldwide organisations.
The US has traditionally been the biggest donor to the UN and its programmes.
Nevertheless, some conservatives from Trump’s Republican Social gathering view the organisation as a hindrance to US international dominance, and worldwide guidelines and laws as a menace to the nation’s sovereignty.
