The United Nations faces the risk of “imminent financial collapse” because of unpaid contributions, including substantial arrears from the United States, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned.
In a letter to member states dated 28 January, Guterres said the organisation’s liquidity crisis was worsening and could begin to disrupt programmes within months.
“The crisis is deepening, threatening programme delivery and risking financial collapse. And the situation will deteriorate further in the near future,” he wrote.
The letter highlights the UN’s reliance on assessed contributions, particularly from major economies.
The United States, which accounts for 22% of the regular budget, has reduced voluntary funding to UN agencies and has not fully paid its mandatory contributions, according to UN officials. China follows with 20% of the core budget.
By the end of 2025, unpaid dues reached a record $1.57 billion, though Guterres did not specify which countries were behind the arrears. UN officials estimate the United States currently owes $2.19 billion for the regular budget, $1.88 billion for active peacekeeping missions, and $528 million for past operations.
Under current rules, the UN must return unspent contributions to member states, creating what Guterres called a “Kafkaesque cycle.” Even as states agreed to reduce the 2026 budget by around 7% to $3.45 billion, the Secretary-General warned the organisation could run out of funds by July.
Guterres urged member states to either meet their financial obligations in full and on time or fundamentally reform the UN’s budget rules to avoid collapse.
Founded in 1945, the United Nations has 193 member states and is responsible for maintaining international peace and security, promoting human rights, coordinating humanitarian aid, and fostering social and economic development.
The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Guterres’ letter.
The explosion at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday afternoon killed at least 12 people and injured a further 309, according t...
Indian police detained more than 2,000 protesters in Delhi on Saturday as authorities blocked a planned demonstration calling for the resignation o...
At least 12 people, including three children, have been killed in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, a day after U.S. Presiden...
Leaders of countries from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have agreed to hold coordinated population censuses around 2030. They took the decision at the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting in Awaza, Turkmenistan on Friday, media reported.
The explosion at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday afternoon killed at least 12 people and injured a further 309, according to Saudi Arabia’s Civil Aviation Authority. The airport remains closed until further notice.
Britain and Israel have reached a temporary compromise over the future of the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, easing a diplomatic dispute that had threatened to further strain relations between the two countries.
South African judge Navanethem “Navi” Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday “for her efforts to promote peace and international law,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday (9 October) escalating tensions with European allies and potentially targeting companies that provide services to the tribunal. The move came hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Indian police detained more than 2,000 protesters in Delhi on Saturday as authorities blocked a planned demonstration calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over disputed changes to voter lists.
At least 12 people, including three children, have been killed in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal to ease sanctions on Russian diesel.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports, questioning why Moscow was granted an economic benefit without an apparent concession towards ending the war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed surprise after Donald Trump mediated the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement in 2025, the U.S. President said at a rally in New York state on Friday.
The United Nations has condemned a sharp rise in attacks on civilians in Ukraine, reporting that more than 100 people were killed and at least 429 injured in a single week as Russian strikes hit residential areas, passenger buses and critical infrastructure.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment