US conditions UN dues payment

The United States is conditioning payment of more than $4 billion it owes the United Nations on a package of reforms, including measures aimed at limiting China’s influence. (reuters.com) Reuters reported on April 28 that U.S. diplomats circulated two notes calling for nine “quick-hit” changes before more money is released. The demands include pension changes, travel cuts and reductions in senior posts. (reuters.com) One proposal calls for a 10% reduction in what the U.S. described as long-standing, ineffective peacekeeping missions. Another would block China from sending tens of millions of dollars a year to a discretionary fund in the office of Secretary-General António Guterres. (reuters.com) The money at issue is not small. The United Nations said in February that the U.S. had paid about $160 million of more than $4 billion owed across the regular budget, peacekeeping and tribunals. (reuters.com) (politico.com) As of early February, the U.S. owed $2.19 billion to the regular budget, more than 95% of all countries’ unpaid regular-budget dues, plus another $2.4 billion for current and past peacekeeping missions and $43.6 million for tribunals. (reuters.com) That debt has become central to the UN’s cash squeeze. Guterres warned in January that the organization faced “imminent financial collapse,” and later said chronic late payments were forcing it to operate below approved budget levels. (reuters.com) (news.un.org) UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said assessed contributions are a treaty obligation for every member state. He also said Guterres is already leading a significant reform effort, but member states have to approve key decisions. (reuters.com) The pressure campaign fits a broader U.S. pullback from parts of the UN system. Reuters said Washington has withdrawn from dozens of UN bodies this year after cutting millions of dollars in funding last year. (reuters.com) The UN had already moved toward cuts before this latest dispute. In December, UN News said the proposed 2026 regular budget had been reduced to $3.238 billion, down 15.1% from 2025, with 2,681 posts marked for elimination. (news.un.org) The next test is whether Washington actually sends a larger payment or keeps using arrears as leverage. For now, the UN is still waiting for both the amount and the date. (politico.com)