20 Feb 2026 - 11:55
The Kabul Tribune (KT) - The United States has paid about $160 million to the United Nations, part of the more than $4 billion it owes, a UN spokesperson said on Thursday, Reuters reported.
The payment comes as President Donald Trump hosted the first meeting of his “Board of Peace” initiative, which experts say could weaken the UN.
Trump said the US would provide money to strengthen the organization and that the UN has “great potential” that has not yet been realized.
The US is the largest contributor to the UN but has refused mandatory payments to regular and peacekeeping budgets and cut funding to many UN agencies.
The board was proposed as part of Trump’s plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza, and he later said it would also address global conflicts beyond Gaza.
UN experts criticized the board for lacking Palestinian representation and said Trump overseeing a foreign territory resembled a colonial structure.
No UN representatives attended Thursday’s board meeting.
