UN Warns of Imminent Financial Collapse as Member States Withhold Funding
UN Warns of Imminent Financial Collapse as Member States Withhold Funding
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The United Nations is facing the risk of an “imminent financial collapse” after widespread non-payment of mandatory contributions by member states, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned.
In a letter sent to all 193 UN members and reported by the BBC, UN’s Guterres said the organisation could run out of funds as early as July 2026 unless urgent action is taken.
According to the secretary-general, the UN’s financial crisis is deepening and now threatens core programmes, peacekeeping missions and humanitarian operations. He said only 77 percent of assessed contributions for 2025 had been paid, leaving a record level of unpaid dues. Several countries are in arrears, while others have formally announced they will not pay their full obligations.
The situation has been worsened by the decision of the United States, the UN’s largest contributor, not to fund the regular budget in 2025 and to provide only around 30 percent of its expected contribution to peacekeeping. Washington has also withdrawn from dozens of UN agencies, describing them as wasteful. Other major donors, including the United Kingdom and Germany, have announced significant cuts to foreign aid.
Guterres said existing UN financial rules have compounded the crisis. Under current regulations, the organisation must return unspent funds for approved programmes even when those funds were never received. As part of the 2026 assessment process, the UN was forced to return $227 million it had not collected.
At UN offices in Geneva, cost-saving measures are already visible, including reduced heating and escalators being switched off. Several agencies have cut operations, with the UN human rights office warning that lack of funding will prevent documentation of serious violations, and the World Food Programme reducing food rations for refugees.
Guterres urged member states either to pay their contributions in full and on time or to overhaul the UN’s financial system to prevent collapse.
