US Moves to Pay $725m in UN Dues

The Trump administration has begun the process of transferring $725m to the United Nations ahead of President Donald Trump’s expected address to the UN General Assembly next month.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the organization faces “imminent financial collapse” because of unpaid contributions from member states. In May, the UN said the United States owed it more than $4bn, although Washington has disputed that figure, saying the amount is much lower and that some payments have been made.

The $725m represents less than 20% of the amount the UN said it was owed by the United States. Experts say the payment could help cover salaries and avert immediate spending cuts, potentially allowing the organization to maintain operations through the end of the year.

If Washington does not make further payments, it could lose its voting rights in the General Assembly in January. Under the UN Charter, a member state can lose its vote if its arrears reach or exceed two years of contributions, although exceptions are possible.

The UN is also undertaking a cost-cutting reform known as UN80 amid the financial crisis. It has cut its 2026 budget by 9.2% and transferred more than 2,000 jobs from expensive cities such as Geneva and New York to lower-cost hubs.

(Reuters, max)