Washington has arrears of around $1.8 billion linked to the separate peacekeeping budget that supports missions across conflict zones worldwide…reports Asian Lite News
The United States has paid roughly $160 million towards its outstanding dues to the United Nations, a fraction of the nearly $4 billion Washington currently owes the global body, according to UN officials.
The payment, confirmed by spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, has been allocated to the organisation’s regular operating budget. However, the contribution leaves a substantial funding gap at a time when the UN is grappling with mounting financial pressure and warnings of deeper instability, Associated Press reported.
According to figures released by the United Nations, the United States owes approximately $2.196 billion to the UN’s regular budget. This includes $767 million for the current year alone. In addition, Washington has arrears of around $1.8 billion linked to the separate peacekeeping budget that supports missions across conflict zones worldwide.
UN officials say the scale of unpaid dues is unprecedented in recent years, with the United States accounting for roughly 95 per cent of total outstanding contributions to the regular budget. As the UN’s largest financial contributor, delays or shortfalls from Washington have an outsized impact on day-to-day operations and long-term planning.
Last month, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning that the organisation faces “imminent financial collapse” unless member states meet their obligations in full or agree to overhaul funding mechanisms. His remarks were widely interpreted as a direct appeal to Washington, urging it to clear its arrears and restore financial stability to the multilateral system.
The partial payment comes amid renewed scrutiny of US engagement with the UN under President Donald Trump. The administration has been sharply critical of the world body, arguing that it has failed to fulfil its mandate effectively. In 2025, the United States made no payments towards its UN dues and withdrew from several UN-affiliated agencies, including the World Health Organization and UNESCO, while reducing funding to a range of other programmes.
The disclosure of the $160 million payment coincided with President Trump convening the inaugural meeting of a newly formed Board of Peace, an initiative some observers view as an attempt to offer an alternative forum for global conflict resolution alongside the UN Security Council.
