UN Awaits U.S. Decision on Settling $4 Billion Financial Obligation: What Will America Pay?

TANZANIA – The United Nations is currently in a state of anticipation, awaiting information on how much of the almost $4 billion debt owed by the United States will be addressed by the Trump administration, as well as the timeline for these payments.

Last week, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning about the potential for “imminent financial collapse” facing the organization. He stressed the need for either a revision of the financial rules or prompt payment of dues by all 193 member countries, with a pointed emphasis on the obligations of the United States.

The U.N.’s financial records show that the U.S. owes $2.196 billion to its regular operating budget, including $767 million for the current year alone. Additionally, a separate debt of $1.8 billion is outstanding for the U.N.’s global peacekeeping efforts, a figure that is also set to increase.

In response to the situation, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations has confirmed through U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz that a substantial down payment on these arrears is expected to be made within weeks, although the exact amount has not yet been finalized. This update was initially reported by Reuters.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric shared with reporters that Secretary-General Guterres has maintained ongoing communication with Ambassador Waltz regarding this critical issue. Additionally, the U.N.’s financial controller has been engaged in discussions with U.S. officials to address these outstanding debts.

”We’re waiting to see exactly when payments will be made and in what amount,” Dujarric said.

Guterres said in a letter to all member nations last week that cash for the U.N.’s regular operating budget could run out by July, which could dramatically affect its operations.

President Donald Trump has said the United Nations has not lived up to its potential. His administration did not pay anything to the United Nations in 2025, and it has withdrawn from U.N. organizations, including the World Health Organization and the cultural agency UNESCO, while pulling funding from dozens of others.

U.N. officials have said 95% of the arrears to the U.N.’s regular budget is from the United States.

The country second on the list for not paying its mandatory regular dues is Venezuela, which owes $38 million, the U.N. official said. The South American nation, whose economy was struggling before the U.S. military raid in January that deposed then-President Nicolás Maduro, has lost its right to vote in the General Assembly for being two years in arrears.

Nearly 60 countries paid their annual dues by the Feb. 8 due date.