The US plans to pay $850 million towards its outstanding obligations to the UN
The payment would cover $725 million for the regular budget and $125 million for peacekeeping
Washington would still owe roughly $5 billion as the UN faces a wider liquidity crisis
The United States plans to pay $850 million towards its outstanding financial obligations to the United Nations, including $725 million for the UN's regular budget and $125 million for peacekeeping operations in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as per AP.
The State Department notified Congress of the planned payments this month. If completed, they would represent the largest payment by the Trump administration to the UN since it began demanding major reforms from the organisation.
The United States owes about $5 billion in UN-related dues, with more than $2 billion owed towards the regular budget and about $3 billion towards peacekeeping operations, according to UN figures.
Largest Payment Under Trump
According to AP, The proposed payment would mark a significant shift from the administration's earlier approach. The US made no payment to the UN in 2025, while in February 2026 it transferred $160 million after UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of an "imminent financial collapse" unless member states met their obligations or the organisation changed its financial rules.
The latest notifications have already faced some resistance from Republican lawmakers, with critics arguing that the proposed funding does not go far enough in addressing what the Trump administration considers excessive UN staffing and policies that conflict with its priorities.
UN Faces Liquidity Crisis
The proposed payment comes as the UN continues to grapple with a wider liquidity crisis caused by delayed or unpaid contributions from member states.
In June, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution described by President Annalena Baerbock as a landmark reform aimed at preventing an "imminent financial collapse" and improving the organisation's financial stability. The resolution took effect on July 1 and will initially operate for four years.
Baerbock said the UN's liquidity crisis had already forced major reductions in peacekeeping operations. She said the reform would free more than $900 million for peacekeeping and $400 million for the regular budget that otherwise would have been credited to member states. She also stressed that reform alone could not resolve the underlying problem of countries failing to pay contributions in full and on time.
What Happens If Countries Do Not Pay?
Under Article 19 of the UN Charter, a member state loses its vote in the General Assembly when its arrears equal or exceed the amount it was assessed for the preceding two full years. The General Assembly can waive that restriction if it determines that the failure to pay resulted from circumstances beyond the country's control.
The United States remains able to vote despite its arrears. AP reported that Washington's planned $850 million payment would reduce part of its outstanding debt but would leave billions still unpaid.
The payment plan therefore marks a partial return to funding the UN while leaving unresolved the broader dispute between Washington and the world body over spending, reform and the scale of US financial commitments.
