07 Feb 2026 - 10:31
The Kabul Tribune (KT) - The United States will make an initial payment toward the billions of dollars it owes the United Nations within weeks, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz said on Friday, while stressing the need for continued reforms at the world body.
Speaking to Reuters in a telephone interview, Waltz said the payment would be a significant first installment toward U.S. annual dues, though the final amount has not yet been decided.
“You'll certainly see an initial tranche of money very shortly,” Waltz said. “It’ll be a significant down payment on our annual dues.”
His comments came two weeks after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the 193-member organization faces an “imminent financial collapse” due to unpaid membership fees, most of which are owed by the United States.
U.N. officials say Washington accounts for more than 95 percent of unpaid contributions to the regular U.N. budget, owing $2.19 billion as of early February. The United States also owes about $2.4 billion for current and past peacekeeping missions and $43.6 million for U.N. tribunals.
On December 30, the U.N. General Assembly approved a $3.45 billion regular budget for 2026, covering operating costs such as staff salaries, offices, meetings, and development and human rights work.
The funding crisis comes as the United States, under President Donald Trump, has pulled back from multilateral engagement on several fronts. While the U.S. has a long history of delayed payments, arrears have grown significantly during Trump’s presidency.
U.N. officials say the U.S. did not contribute to the regular budget last year, leaving an unpaid balance of $827 million, and still owes $767 million for 2026.
