US pays 725 million dollars to UN to keep voting rights in UNGA
GeopoliticsMacro
The United Nations disclosed yesterday that the government of President Donald Trump has paid 725 million dollars to the United Nations. This payment reduces a large portion of the United States' outstanding arrears and allows the US to retain its right to vote at the UN General Assembly, or UNGA, which will convene in New York next week. UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said that last Friday the US also paid another 102 million dollars for peacekeeping missions, but the US still owes 1.312 billion dollars for the regular budget. Thanks to this payment, the US is no longer at risk of being subject to Article 19 in 2027. Under Article 19 of the UN Charter, member states lose their right to vote in the General Assembly if their arrears for annual membership dues exceed the amount due for two full years. The US is the largest contributor to the UN budget, but under the Trump administration it has slowed payments of its assessed contributions and cut voluntary funding. Meanwhile, China, the second-largest contributor, paid 641.4 million dollars on September 1 for its contribution to the UN regular budget. The United Nations is currently carrying out a major reform and cost-cutting effort known as UN80 amid a financial crisis within the organization.
