The United Nations is facing a serious financial shortfall and could run out of money within months, according to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has urged member states to urgently pay what they owe.
In a letter issued Friday, Guterres warned that the organisation is at risk of bankruptcy by July if overdue contributions are not settled, pointing to long-standing issues with late and incomplete payments.
Unpaid Dues Push UN to the Edge
Guterres said the UN’s financial troubles stem from a growing number of countries failing to meet their mandatory funding obligations. Some pay only part of what they owe, while others delay payments altogether, forcing the organisation to freeze hiring and cut back on key programmes.
“Either all member states honour their obligations to pay in full and on time, or we must fundamentally change our financial rules,” Guterres wrote, warning that the current system is heading toward collapse.
By the end of 2025, unpaid contributions had reached about $1.6 billion, more than double the total from the previous year, despite more than 150 countries having paid their dues.
US Cuts and Global Divisions Deepen the Strain
The financial warning comes as the Trump administration has reduced funding to several UN agencies and delayed or rejected some mandatory contributions. President Donald Trump has repeatedly questioned the value of the UN and criticised its priorities.
Political divisions have also taken a toll. Rising tensions between the United States, Russia and China—three permanent members of the Security Council—have left the UN’s most powerful body increasingly paralysed. Earlier this month, Trump launched a so-called “Board of Peace,” which critics say could be designed to rival the UN’s role on the global stage.
“An Untenable Path Forward”
Guterres described the organisation’s financial trajectory as “untenable,” warning that it exposes the UN to serious structural risks. He also highlighted a related challenge: the requirement to reimburse member states for unspent funds, even when the UN does not have the cash on hand.
“We are trapped in a Kafkaesque cycle, expected to give back cash that does not exist,” he wrote.
Without a sharp improvement in collections, Guterres said the UN may be unable to fully carry out its 2026 budget, approved in December. Based on past trends, he warned that regular budget funds could be exhausted by July.
In what will be his final full year in office before stepping down in 2026, Guterres has warned that the world is increasingly divided by geopolitical conflict and violations of international law. He has also criticised sweeping cuts to development and humanitarian aid, an apparent reference to funding reductions tied to the Trump administration’s “America First” policies.
