UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the organization could face a financial collapse if member states continue to delay payments. In a letter to all UN members, Guterres stated that the United Nations might run out of funds for regular operations as early as July, potentially disrupting its work worldwide.
The crisis has been exacerbated by the United States, the UN’s largest contributor, which has not paid its mandatory dues for the previous year. A UN official reported that the US currently owes $2.19 billion for 2025, with an additional $767 million due for 2026. Guterres noted that the UN ended 2025 with a record $1.56 billion in unpaid contributions—more than double the amount outstanding at the end of 2024.
The Secretary-General emphasized that unless payments improve significantly, the UN may be unable to meet its $3.45 billion regular budget for 2026, which was unanimously approved by all 193 member states in December.
