© Getty Images Trump has partially settled with the UN.
The United States has transferred around $160 million from its over $4 billion liabilities to the United Nations, a UN spokesperson announced on Thursday, as US President Donald Trump convened the initial session of his “Peace Council” endeavor, which analysts suggest could weaken the UN's function, Reuters details.
“Last week, we received roughly $160 million from the United States as a partial settlement of their outstanding dues to the UN’s ordinary budget,” indicated a declaration from an Organization’s official.
During the inauguration of the Peace Council gathering, Trump declared that Washington would allocate resources to bolster the UN.
“We will assist them financially and ensure the United Nations is workable,” he remarked. Simultaneously, Trump stated that the UN “possesses significant capacity” but “has not fully realized it.”
The United States continues to be the largest contributor to the UN’s finances. Nevertheless, under the Trump leadership, Washington has declined to make obligatory payments to the standard budget and the budget for peacekeeping endeavors, and has also lessened voluntary funding for UN establishments. Furthermore, the United States has departed from numerous segments of the Organization.
According to the UN, as of early February, the US owed $2.19 billion to the routine budget — surpassing 95% of the total liabilities of member countries. In addition, Washington owes an additional $2.4 billion for ongoing and prior peacekeeping operations and $43.6 million for financing UN tribunals.
Trump introduced the Peace Council initiative in late last year as an element of his strategy to conclude Israel’s conflict in Gaza. He subsequently expressed that the council would also tackle other worldwide disputes. A UN Security Council decree acknowledged the body’s inception until 2027, confining its authority to the Gaza Strip.
However, several nations, including notable countries of the Global South and significant US allies in the West, are unwilling to engage in the initiative. UN specialists have denounced it, arguing that US authority over a body intended to oversee the governance of a foreign territory is reminiscent of a colonial framework. They also emphasize the absence of Palestinian representation in the council's composition.
There was no UN delegate present at the inaugural session of the “Peace Council” on Thursday.