Reuters, citing Michael Waltz, the United States’ representative to the United Nations, reports that Washington is set to begin making initial payments toward its billions of dollars in arrears to the UN.
The report, published on Saturday, February 7, states that Waltz emphasized the need for reforms at the United Nations and noted that the initial payments would be made within the coming weeks.
Waltz made the remarks two weeks after UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned about the organization’s financial situation, saying the 193-member international body faces an “imminent financial bankruptcy.”
Waltz said, “Soon, part of the arrears will be settled through an initial payment. This amount will represent a significant advance on our annual membership dues. The final figure has not yet been determined, but it will be announced within a few weeks.”
UN officials have said that more than 95 percent of the arrears owed to the organization’s regular budget are attributable to the United States.
In December, the UN General Assembly approved a $3.45 billion regular budget for 2026, covering the costs of running UN offices worldwide, including the headquarters in New York, staff salaries, meetings, and development and human rights activities.