United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the world body could face a severe financial crisis, with regular budget funds potentially running out by July, unless member states urgently pay their mandatory contributions.

In a letter to UN members, Guterres said chronic late payments and unpaid dues have pushed the organization into hiring freezes and spending cuts, putting core operations at risk. “The current trajectory is untenable,” he wrote, warning of “structural financial risk” to the UN system.

The warning comes amid reduced funding from the United States under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has cut support to several UN agencies and delayed or rejected some required payments. Trump has repeatedly questioned the relevance of the UN and criticized its priorities.

According to Euronews, unpaid contributions reached around $1.6 billion by the end of 2025 more than double the previous year despite over 150 countries having paid their dues in full.

Guterres also highlighted a paradox in UN finances, noting the organization is required to reimburse unspent funds to member states even when it lacks sufficient cash. “We are trapped in a Kafkaesque cycle,” he said.

Geopolitical tensions among permanent Security Council members the United States, Russia and China have further weakened multilateral cooperation, while Trump’s recently launched “Board of Peace” has drawn criticism as a potential rival to the UN.

BOB Post