United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning that the organisation could run out of money by July unless member states urgently pay their dues. The UN is facing deep financial strain, worsened by delayed or reduced contributions from some countries, including the United States.
Unpaid Dues Push UN Toward Collapse
Guterres said the UN’s budget problems are chronic, with some nations failing to pay in full or on time. By the end of 2025, unpaid contributions reached around $1.6 billion—more than double the previous year—even though over 150 countries had paid their dues.
“The current trajectory is untenable,” Guterres wrote, noting that the organisation is now exposed to serious structural financial risks. Hiring freezes and cutbacks are already in place, and without swift action, the UN may not be able to fully implement its 2026 programme budget.
US Funding Cuts and Global Tensions
The warning comes amid reduced funding from the Trump administration, which has also delayed or rejected some mandatory contributions. Trump has repeatedly questioned the UN’s relevance and priorities, and earlier this month launched a “Board of Peace,” which critics view as a potential rival to the UN.
Tensions between the United States, Russia, and China—each holding veto power on the Security Council—have also left the council largely paralysed, adding to the organisation’s operational challenges.
A “Kafkaesque Cycle” of Financial Pressure
Guterres highlighted another complication: the UN is required to reimburse member states for unspent funds, even when it lacks the cash. “We are trapped in a Kafkaesque cycle, expected to give back cash that does not exist,” he wrote.
In his final annual speech before stepping down in 2026, Guterres described a world divided by “self-defeating geopolitical divides” and “brazen violations of international law.” He also criticized “wholesale cuts in development and humanitarian aid,” likely referencing reductions tied to the Trump administration’s “America First” initiatives.
Without urgent reform or renewed contributions from member states, Guterres warned, the UN’s ability to function effectively could be at serious risk in the coming months.
