Published On 4/29/2026
A development news agency reported – yesterday, Tuesday – that the United States has set specific conditions for the release of billions of dollars owed to the United Nations, including imposing more cost-cutting measures and taking steps to confront China’s influence in the international organization.
The report issued by Devex, an independent organization covering global development news, stated that two diplomatic notes distributed by the United States called for nine “quick fixes” in order to release more funds.
The report added that these reforms include:
- Reform of the United Nations staff pension system
- Ending long-haul business class travel for some senior staff and all mid-level staff
- Imposing additional cuts to the senior ranks of the United Nations
- A 10% reduction in long-term and ineffective peacekeeping missions
Among other reforms mentioned in the report, China is prevented from transferring tens of millions of dollars every year to a discretionary fund located in the Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, a step aimed at countering Chinese influence in the international organization.
Devex quoted one of the documents, which stated: “These reforms will be an indication that the United Nations is serious about carrying out reforms.”
While neither the American or Chinese missions to the United Nations have yet responded to a request for comment, the United States has repeatedly confirmed that it will continue to pressure the United Nations for reform, after it announced its withdrawal from dozens of bodies affiliated with the international organization this year, and reduced its funding by millions of dollars last year.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that the assessed contributions of the United States and all other member states are a “treaty obligation,” and that Secretary-General António Guterres is “already leading a major reform” of the organization.
Dujarric added, in a press conference, that this “requires decisions that member states must take if we want the United Nations to be more effective and use its resources in the best possible way,” stressing that the Secretary-General is doing everything he can in this direction.
Guterres warned in January that the United Nations faced “imminent financial collapse” due to unpaid fees, most of which are owed by the United States.
The United Nations said in February that the United States had paid about $160 million out of more than $4 billion owed.
It is noteworthy that the United States owed $2.19 billion to the regular United Nations budget as of the beginning of February, that is, more than 95% of the total amounts owed by countries at that time in the world. It also owed another $2.4 billion to current and previous peacekeeping missions, and $43.6 million to the United Nations courts.
