UN Faces Bankruptcy Risk Due to Member State Payment Defaults, Warns Guterres

Prachachat•International•226d ago

Reader Briefing

The UN is at risk of financial collapse due to a significant number of member states defaulting on their contributions, with potential cash shortages by July 2026.

•UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned member states of impending financial bankruptcy for the organization.
•Numerous member states have failed to pay their assessed contributions on time and in full.
•A record $1.57 billion in arrears was reported by the end of 2025, with potential cash shortages by July 2026.

Overview

•UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated in a letter dated Jan 28 that the United Nations is facing the risk of imminent financial bankruptcy.
•The financial precarity is due to a large number of member states not paying their contributions according to schedule and budgetary regulations.
•By the end of 2025, a record high of $1.57 billion in outstanding payments was reported, threatening the UN's finances.
•António Guterres warned that the UN could face a cash shortage as early as July 2026 if payments are not made.
•This warning comes as the US, the largest contributor, is reportedly stepping back from multilateral cooperation.
•The UN, founded in 1945, has 193 member states and aims to maintain international peace and security.
•Under UN rules, contributions are calculated based on each member state's economic size, with the US responsible for 22% and China for 20% of the regular budget.
•Member states are urged to fulfill their payment obligations to prevent financial collapse, or an overhaul of the organization's financial rules will be necessary.

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Key Quotes

António Guterres

"The crisis is escalating, threatening the implementation of various projects and risking financial collapse, and the situation will worsen in the near future."

วิกฤตกำลังทวีความรุนแรงขึ้น คุกคามต่อการดำเนินโครงการต่างๆ และเสี่ยงต่อการล่มสลายทางการเงิน และสถานการณ์จะเลวร้ายลงอีกในอนาคตอันใกล้

António Guterres

"All member states must fulfill their obligations to pay in full and on time, otherwise member states will have to overhaul the organization's financial rules."

รัฐสมาชิกทุกประเทศต้องปฏิบัติตามพันธกรณีในการชำระเงินเต็มจำนวนและตรงเวลา หรือไม่เช่นนั้นประเทศสมาชิกจะต้องยกเครื่องกฎทางการเงินขององค์กร

Key Entities

Person

António Guterres(อันโตนิอู กุแตร์เรซ)ℹ️

Secretary-General of the United Nations who issued a warning about the organization's financial instability.

Donald Trump(โดนัลด์ ทรัมป์)ℹ️

Former President of the United States whose past statements and actions regarding the UN are mentioned in the context of the organization's funding issues.

Organization

United Nations(สหประชาชาติ)ℹ️

International organization facing potential financial bankruptcy due to member state defaults on contributions.

Place

United States(สหรัฐอเมริกา)ℹ️

The largest financial contributor to the UN, whose withdrawal from multilateral cooperation is cited as a factor in the UN's financial crisis.