UN Awaits US Payment Details Amidst Mounting Financial Strain
The United Nations is urgently seeking clarification from the United States regarding the timing and amount of long-overdue financial contributions, as the organization faces a deepening financial crisis fueled by declining US engagement.
The UN has formally requested details from Washington after US Ambassador Mike Waltz indicated last week that payments would be forthcoming “within weeks,” according to a spokesperson for the international body. However, as of Monday, February 9, 2026, no concrete information has been provided.
“We’ve seen the statements, and frankly, the Secretary-General has been in touch for quite some time on this issue with Ambassador Waltz,” a UN spokesperson stated during a news briefing. “Our [budget] controller has been in touch with the US; indications were given. We’re waiting to see exactly when payments will be made and in what amounts.”
The financial shortfall is largely attributed to unpaid fees from the US, which currently account for approximately 95 percent of all outstanding UN budget dues. This situation has unfolded as the administration of President Donald Trump has increasingly distanced the US from international organizations.
In a January letter, UN Chief Antonio Guterres warned that the organization is facing “imminent financial collapse” due to the unpaid membership dues. As of the beginning of February, the US owed the UN roughly $2.19 billion for the core budget, an additional $2.4 billion for peacekeeping missions, and $43.6 million for UN tribunals. Officials report that the US failed to remit $827 million for the 2025 budget and has not paid $767 million for the 2026 budget.
The US, alongside its close ally Israel, has consistently voiced criticism of the UN and actively sought to undermine its agencies, alleging they operate against their national interests. This tension has been particularly acute regarding reports on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk, revealed last week that his office is operating in “survival mode” due to the severe budget constraints. The Trump administration previously halted contributions to the agency in 2025. Turk’s office has frequently published critical assessments of alleged human rights abuses committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians, reports that have been strongly contested by both the US and Israel.
Despite the strained relationship, Ambassador Waltz suggested a resolution may be near, telling Reuters that the UN would receive a “significant” payment soon. “You’ll certainly see an initial tranche of money very shortly,” Waltz said, “just in general, towards the arrears, and also in recognition of some of the reforms that we’ve seen.”
The current approach reflects a broader shift in US foreign policy under the Trump administration, as articulated in last year’s National Security Strategy. That document asserted that the “world’s fundamental political unit is and will remain the nation-state,” prioritizing national sovereignty over international cooperation.
Historically, the US has been the largest financial contributor to the UN and its various programs. However, a growing faction within Trump’s Republican Party views the organization as an impediment to US global influence, perceiving international rules and regulations as a threat to the country’s sovereignty. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the UN can avert a full-blown financial crisis and continue its vital work on the world stage.
