The United Nations could run out of money within months unless member states urgently pay what they owe, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Friday, describing the organisation’s financial situation as increasingly unsustainable.
In a letter to member states, Guterres said the UN may be unable to meet its obligations by July, as chronic funding shortfalls continue to disrupt operations and force painful cutbacks.
Late Payments and Mounting Debt
According to Guterres, the UN’s financial problems are largely driven by countries failing to pay their mandatory contributions in full or on time. That pattern has led to hiring freezes, delayed programmes and growing uncertainty across the organisation.
“Either all member states honour their obligations to pay in full and on time, or member states must fundamentally overhaul our financial rules,” Guterres wrote, warning of an “imminent financial collapse” if nothing changes.
By the end of 2025, unpaid contributions had reached about $1.6 billion—more than double the total from the previous year—even though more than 150 countries had settled their dues.
US Cuts and Political Gridlock
The warning comes as the Trump administration has reduced funding to several UN agencies and delayed or rejected some required payments. President Donald Trump has repeatedly questioned the UN’s relevance and criticised its priorities, while pushing alternative initiatives such as his recently announced “Board of Peace,” which critics say could rival the UN.
At the same time, tensions between the United States, Russia and China—three permanent members of the Security Council—have left the UN’s most powerful body largely paralysed, further undermining confidence in the organisation’s effectiveness.
“A System Under Severe Strain”
Guterres also highlighted a deeper structural problem: the UN is expected to return unspent funds to member states even when it lacks the cash to do so. He described the situation as a “Kafkaesque cycle,” saying the organisation is being asked to give back money that does not exist.
“The current trajectory is untenable,” he wrote. “Unless collections drastically improve, we cannot fully execute the 2026 programme budget approved in December.”
In his final annual address before stepping down in 2026, Guterres warned that the world is increasingly divided by geopolitical rivalries and violations of international law. He also condemned sweeping cuts to development and humanitarian aid, an apparent reference to reductions tied to the Trump administration’s “America First” agenda.
Without urgent financial reform or renewed political commitment, Guterres cautioned, the UN’s ability to carry out its mission may soon be in serious jeopardy.
