UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations said on February 9 that it was waiting to see how much and when U.S. President Donald Trump would pay of the nearly US$4 billion the United States owed the world organization.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned last week that the world body was on the verge of financial collapse unless its financial rules are overhauled or all 193 member nations pay their dues, a message clearly directed at the United States.
The United States owes the United Nations about $2.2 billion for its main operating budget, including $767 million for this year, according to a U.N. official. The U.S. also owes $1.8 billion for the separate peacekeeping budget, which is expected to increase.
The U.S. Mission to the U.N. said that U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz announced the Trump administration's plans to make a large initial payment on this debt within a few weeks, although the exact amount is not yet decided. Reuters first reported his statement.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that Secretary-General António Guterres has been communicating with Waltz for some time, and the U.N.'s financial chief has also been talking with U.S. officials. Dujarric added that they are still waiting to know when the payments will be made and how much will be paid.
In a letter to all member countries last week, Guterres warned that the U.N. could run out of money for its regular budget by July, which could seriously disrupt its work.
President Donald Trump has said the United Nations has not met expectations. His administration paid nothing to the U.N. in 2025 and withdrew from some U.N. groups, such as the World Health Organization and UNESCO, while also cutting funds to many others.
U.N. officials say the United States owes 95 percent of the unpaid regular budget money. The next country owing the most is Venezuela, which owes $38 million. Because it has not paid for two years, Venezuela has lost its voting rights in the U.N. General Assembly.
Almost 60 countries paid their yearly dues by the February 8 deadline.
