The United Nations (UN) is currently experiencing an unprecedented financial crisis, which threatens the operational continuity of the international organization.
According to the international organization, it could run out of funds by July 2026 if the member countries do not pay their pending annual dues.
Last Thursday, Secretary-General António Guterres sent a letter to the ambassadors of the 196 member countries warning about the “imminent financial collapse”.
This is an unprecedented financial crisis for the UN, as this has never happened in the organization’s history.
“The crisis is worsening, threatening the execution of programs and risking a financial collapse,” wrote Guterres in the letter.
“I cannot overstate the urgency of the situation we are now facing,” added the official.
The United States holds 95% of the debt
The United States is responsible for about 95% of the money owed to the United Nations, approximately 2.2 billion dollars.
This amount combines the unpaid annual dues for 2025 and those for 2026.
This is due to the policies of the U.S. president, Donald Trump, an open opponent of the UN and international organizations in general, which he considers of little use to his country’s interests.
Due to this perception, the leader withdrew the United States from various global organizations and agreements, including the Paris Agreement against climate change.
This puts the UN as one of the first victims of Trump’s “chainsaw” and creates a deep financial crisis in the entity, given that the U.S. has always been one of the major contributors.
Senior officials of the organization said that if funds are depleted, they would be forced to close the iconic headquarters in New York by August.
The Security Council, responsible for maintaining international peace, holds its meetings at this headquarters.
The UN financial crisis would also force the cancellation of the annual meeting of the General Assembly of world leaders in September.
Additionally, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which responds to emergencies such as conflicts and natural disasters, would close.
Although agencies like UNICEF, the Refugee Agency, and the World Food Program have independent budgets and would continue operating, the UN, which coordinates the work of all these, would close its doors due to the financial crisis.
The structural causes of the UN financial crisis
The organization’s financial difficulties are mainly due to two factors. First, a liquidity crisis caused by member countries not paying their dues or doing so late.
Second, a financial rule in place since 1945 that states that if the organization does not spend the entire budget, it must return the money to the members. This rule applies even when the lack of spending is due to non-payment of dues.
“It leaves the organization exposed to a structural financial risk,” Guterres wrote about this rule.
In response to the financial crisis, the Secretary-General urged member countries to pay their UN dues and reform this outdated rule.
On December 30, the General Assembly authorized 3.45 billion dollars for the 2026 budget. This budget covers peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights.
The impact on humanitarian and peace operations
The financial crisis of the UN and a potential shutdown would directly affect the global humanitarian work if the organization closed in July.
In response to this situation, the peacekeeping missions have been instructed to reduce their budgets by 15 percent.
Among the main debtors, Venezuela has the second-largest amount of unpaid dues, 38 million dollars for 2025, and has lost its voting rights.
Meanwhile, Mexico ranks third with a debt of 20 million dollars for 2025.
“When it comes to paying, it’s now or never”, said Farhan Haq, spokesperson for the United Nations.
“We do not have the kind of cash reserves necessary to continue operating,” added the spokesperson.
In addition to the annual dues, the United States owes about 1.9 billion dollars for active peacekeeping missions.
It also owes 528 million for closed missions and 43.6 million for international tribunals.
President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from dozens of international organizations in January, citing mismanagement and waste.
Trump stated that the country would reduce funding for the peacekeeping operations of the global organization.
