News of the World

UN Warns of Crisis: US and Russia Fail to Pay Contributions

Delayed member-state payments have created a $1.6 billion deficit, forcing UN budget cuts and threatening the organization’s stability. The US and Russia remain among the debtors, while China has paid its contribution in full.
ALTN.News
Dec 4, 2025 - 11:34
 0  8
Photo taken from open sources

UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the organization is facing a serious financial crisis due to systematic delays in payments by member states. According to him, unpaid contributions for the past two years have reached nearly $1.6 billion, undermining the UN’s ability to maintain key programs and plan long-term activities.

The total debt of member states amounts to $1.586 billion, including $760 million in unpaid obligations for 2024 and $877 million expected in 2025. As of late November, only 145 out of 193 states had fully met their obligations, while the United States and Russia remain among those that have not transferred their contributions. China, in contrast, has paid in full.

Amid the shortage of funds, a reduced UN budget for 2026 has been proposed — $3.24 billion, which is $577 million less than the current amount. Plans include cutting 2,681 positions as well as reducing funding for special missions by more than 21 percent. Representatives of member states have expressed concern that the cuts could affect development programs, humanitarian initiatives, and junior staff.

Guterres emphasized the need for timely and full payment of contributions by all states, noting that the organization’s financial stability depends on the discipline of its members. The final budget decision is expected before the end of the year.