Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, cautioned nations on Friday that the organisation is on the brink of financial collapse and may deplete its funds by July. Guterres explained that the UN has long struggled with persistent budget shortages, as some member countries fail to pay their dues fully or on time, resulting in hiring freezes and spending cuts. In his letter, Guterres stated, “Either all member states fulfil their obligations promptly and completely, or we must reform our financial regulations fundamentally to prevent an impending financial breakdown.”
The warning from the UN chief arrives as the administration of US President Donald Trump has recently reduced financial support to several UN bodies, delaying or withholding certain mandatory payments. Trump, who has repeatedly criticised the UN’s relevance and agenda, has also sparked tension within the organisation. Disagreements between the United States, Russia, and China—the permanent members with veto rights on the Security Council—have rendered the council ineffective. This month, Trump introduced his initiative titled the “Board of Peace”, which critics argue is meant to act as a competitor to the UN.
Although over 150 member countries have settled their fees, the UN ended 2025 with $1.6 billion still outstanding—more than double the previous year’s amount. Guterres described the current path as “untenable” and warned that it exposes the organisation to structural financial instability. He further noted, through spokesperson Farhan Haq, that the UN is also obligated to reimburse nations for unused resources, adding a further burden. Guterres wrote, “We are caught in a Kafkaesque situation—expected to refund funds that simply do not exist.”
The Secretary-General emphasised, “If collections do not significantly improve, we will be unable to carry out the 2026 budget approved last December.” He added, “Even more concerning, should the current pattern continue, our regular funds could be depleted by July.”
As Guterres prepares to leave office at the end of 2026, he recently delivered his final annual address outlining his goals for the coming year. He portrayed a world divided by “self-defeating geopolitical rifts and blatant breaches of international law”. He also criticised “widespread reductions in development and humanitarian funding,” indirectly referencing the significant cuts imposed on UN agencies by the United States as part of Trump’s “America First” agenda.
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