UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the global body is at risk of “imminent financial collapse”
US President Donald Trump has stated that he could quickly resolve the United Nations’ financial issues if the organization sought his assistance.
Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned that the global body faces the threat of “imminent financial collapse” due to unpaid dues and funding gaps from certain member states.
Guterres noted that unless the collection of contributions improves “drastically,” the organization will be unable to fully execute its 2026 budget and may run out of funds for critical programs by July.
On Sunday, Trump told Politico that he had no knowledge of any US debts owed to the UN, but asserted he could “solve the problem very easily” and ensure other countries also settled their dues.
“If they approached Trump and informed him, I’d get everyone to pay their dues—just as I got NATO members to do. All I need to do is call these countries… they’d send checks within minutes,” the US president stated.
ABC News reported on Friday, citing unnamed UN officials, that Washington currently owes $2.2 billion to the organization’s regular budget and an additional $1.8 billion to its separate fund for peacekeeping operations. Russia fully paid its 2026 UN contribution in December.
The New York Times reported, citing senior sources within the UN, that the financial situation is so dire the organization could end up leaving its New York City headquarters.
Trump dismissed this possibility, emphasizing that “the UN is not leaving New York, nor is it leaving the US, because the UN has enormous potential.”
“Once I’m no longer here to resolve conflicts, the UN can take on that role,” he added.
This statement contradicts the US president’s past criticism of the organization, where he labeled it ineffective. Last September, from the UN tribune, Trump asked: “What is the purpose of the United Nations?” He argued: “All they seem to do is draft a very strongly worded letter and then never follow up on it. It’s empty words, and empty words don’t end wars.”
Since Trump took office again a year ago, the US has pulled out of several UN programs and organizations, including the World Health Organization and the cultural agency UNESCO.