UN is waiting to see how much the US intends to pay of the nearly $4 billion it owes

The United Nations is awaiting details on when and how much of the nearly $4 billion owed by the United States will be paid, following recent warnings about the organization’s dire financial situation.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last week cautioned that the world body faces “imminent financial collapse” unless financial rules are overhauled or all 193 member nations pay their dues. The message was clearly aimed at the United States, which currently stands as the UN’s largest debtor.

According to UN officials, the U.S. owes $2.196 billion to the UN’s regular operating budget, including $767 million for this year alone. Additionally, the country has accumulated $1.8 billion in debt for the separate budget funding UN peacekeeping operations worldwide, a figure that continues to rise.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz has indicated that the Trump administration plans to make a significant down payment on these arrears within weeks. However, the final amount remains undetermined, according to confirmation from the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.

“We’re waiting to see exactly when payments will be made and in what amount,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Monday. He noted that Guterres has been in contact with Waltz “for quite some time,” and that the UN’s controller has also been communicating with U.S. officials.

The financial situation has become increasingly critical. In his letter to member nations last week, Guterres warned that cash for the UN’s regular operating budget could be depleted by July, potentially causing dramatic disruptions to the organization’s global operations.

The Trump administration has maintained a complicated relationship with the United Nations, with the president stating that the organization has not lived up to its potential. In a significant departure from traditional U.S. policy, the administration did not contribute any funds to the United Nations in 2025, marking a stark shift in America’s historical role as the organization’s largest financial contributor.

Further straining relations, the Trump administration has withdrawn from several key UN bodies, including the World Health Organization and the cultural agency UNESCO, while also cutting funding to dozens of other UN programs and initiatives.

UN officials have reported that approximately 95% of the arrears to the UN’s regular budget stem from the United States alone, highlighting the outsized impact of American funding decisions on the organization’s financial health.

While the U.S. tops the list of debtors, Venezuela ranks second, owing $38 million in mandatory regular dues. The South American nation’s economy was already struggling before the U.S. military operation in January that removed then-President Nicolás Maduro from power. As a consequence of being two years in arrears, Venezuela has lost its voting rights in the General Assembly.

The financial challenges facing the UN stand in stark contrast to the compliance of nearly 60 countries that paid their annual dues by the February 8 deadline this year, demonstrating the divide between nations that meet their financial obligations and those that do not.

The potential payment from the U.S. comes at a critical juncture for the United Nations, which faces mounting operational costs for peacekeeping missions, humanitarian efforts, and diplomatic initiatives worldwide. Financial stability is essential for the organization to fulfill its mandate of maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, and providing humanitarian assistance.

As the UN awaits the U.S. payment details, the organization continues to navigate a challenging financial landscape that threatens its ability to respond to global crises and fulfill its core mission.