UNITED NATIONS (Realist English). The United Nations said on Monday it is waiting to learn how much of the roughly $4 billion owed by the United States it will receive and when payments will arrive, after Washington promised an initial transfer in the coming weeks.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly sounded the alarm about the organisation’s finances, warning that the world body could face an “imminent financial collapse” if all 193 member states do not fulfil their financial obligations or if reforms to budget rules are not implemented.
The United States is the largest contributor to the U.N.’s regular operating budget but has fallen far behind on payments. As of early February, Washington owed about $2.19 billion in regular dues — including $767 million for the current year — and an additional $1.8 billion for peacekeeping operations, figures U.N. officials say will continue to rise.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz told Reuters last week that the Trump administration plans to make a “significant down payment” on the arrears “in a matter of weeks,” although he did not specify the amount. The U.N.’s budget controller and top U.N. officials have been in contact with U.S. representatives but are still awaiting firm details on timing and allocation.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Monday that discussions have been ongoing between Guterres and Waltz, but the world body is still waiting “to see exactly when payments will be made and in what amounts.”
Guterres has warned that the U.N. may run out of cash by July if budget shortfalls are not addressed, potentially jeopardising operations and payrolls across the organisation.
The United States did not pay its regular U.N. dues in 2025 and has scaled back its engagement with a number of U.N. agencies in recent years, withdrawing from bodies such as the World Health Organization and UNESCO while trimming funding for others. Washington accounts for more than 95 % of the outstanding arrears on the regular budget, U.N. officials say.
By contrast, the second-largest debtor, Venezuela, owes about $38 million and has lost its General Assembly voting rights because of prolonged arrears.
Nearly 60 countries had paid their assessed contributions for 2026 by the February 8 deadline, according to U.N. data.
