UN Chief Guterres Warns of Imminent Financial Collapse

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a warning to all member states regarding the United Nations’ financial situation. In a letter sent earlier this week, Guterres stated that the organization is facing an “imminent financial collapse” due to unpaid annual dues and other issues.

The letter urges member states to agree to overhaul the UN’s financial rules or accept the possibility of financial collapse. It also calls on them to pay their annual dues. According to a spokesperson for the UN, the organization does not have sufficient cash reserves to continue operating as it has in previous years.

Guterres’ appeal comes amid concerns about funding for multilateral institutions, including the United States’ plans to slash its funding for such organizations. The US accounts for 22 percent of the core budget, followed by China with 20 percent. However, there is a record $1.57 billion in outstanding dues as of December 2025.

The UN has approved a $3.45 billion budget for 2026, which represents a 7 percent reduction from last year’s budget. Despite this, Guterres warned that the organization could run out of cash by July if member states do not address their financial obligations. One issue is an outdated rule that requires the global body to credit back hundreds of millions of dollars in unspent dues to states each year.

As of Thursday, only 36 of the 193 UN member states have fully paid their regular 2026 contributions. The UN is seeking to overhaul its financial rules to prevent a financial collapse.

Source: Al Jazeera