Amman Today

publish date 2026-02-12 09:27:00

Washington pledged, through its ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, on Wednesday, that it would begin paying part of its arrears to the United Nations within weeks.

On the brink of financial collapse

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned late last month that failure or delay by member states in paying their dues would put the international organization on the brink of financial collapse.

It is noteworthy that the administration of US President Donald Trump has in recent months reduced its funding for some United Nations agencies, such as the World Health Organization, and has refused or postponed some other mandatory contributions.

“We will pay these dues.”

In an interview with reporters during a visit to Geneva, Waltz said that the focus is on the “accumulated debts” owed to Washington.

He added, “We will pay these dues,” noting that the money will begin arriving “within weeks,” but he did not disclose the details of the amount that Washington is preparing to pay.

A United Nations spokesman said earlier this week that the international organization was waiting to know when and how much the money would be paid.

Pressure for ‘reforms’

Waltz stressed that Washington does not intend to back down from its demands for comprehensive reforms at the United Nations, saying, “It must push for reforms, and therefore we will continue our constant pressure to demand efficiency.”

He explained that the Trump administration was supportive of the reform program launched by Guterres last year, but he wished that the UN Secretary-General had “started the initiative earlier than in the ninth year of his term.”

There are also widespread concerns that Washington is seeking to undermine multilateralism.

Competition “Peace Council”?

Observers accused the “Peace Council” that Trump established last month of aiming to become a competitor to the United Nations, but Waltz stressed that the Council’s intention is not to replace the United Nations, “but to complement it.”

In addition, Waltz asked from Geneva, which houses the European headquarters of the United Nations and dozens of other affiliated agencies, why the organization’s headquarters are located “in some of the most expensive cities in the world?”

“In a modern, interconnected world, the physical location of each employee is becoming less important,” he added.

He rejected calls from some to reconsider the presence of the United Nations headquarters in New York after refusing to grant visas to a number of leaders last year.

However, Waltz stressed the need for one place in the world where everyone can express their opinion, adding, “Of course, that place will remain New York.”

According to reports, Washington owes the United Nations more than $2 billion in unpaid membership fees for its regular operating budget, and an almost identical amount for the separate budget for peacekeeping operations.

France24/AFP

#Washington #pay #arrears #United #Nations #weeks #demands #reform #international #organization

World News

Source 1 : https://www.france24.com/ar/أمريكا/20260212-واشنطن-ترامب-سداد-مستحقات-متأخرة-الأمم-المتحدة-مليارات-الدولارات

Source 2 : ألدستور