United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a blunt warning to member states, saying the organisation is on the brink of a serious financial crisis and could run out of money as early as July unless countries urgently pay what they owe.
In a letter sent on Friday, Guterres said the UN’s finances are under growing strain because some nations are failing to pay their mandatory contributions in full or on time, forcing the organisation into hiring freezes and budget cuts.
Mounting Unpaid Bills and Structural Risks
Guterres said the UN’s financial problems have become chronic. By the end of 2025, unpaid contributions had climbed to about $1.6 billion — more than double the amount recorded a year earlier — despite more than 150 countries having paid their dues.
“The current trajectory is untenable,” he wrote, warning that the organisation is now exposed to serious structural financial risks.
Unless collections improve quickly, Guterres said the UN will not be able to fully carry out the 2026 programme budget approved in December. Based on past patterns, he warned, the UN’s regular budget funds could be exhausted by July.
US Funding Cuts Add Pressure
The warning comes at a time when the Trump administration has scaled back funding to several UN agencies and delayed or rejected some mandatory payments. President Donald Trump has repeatedly questioned the relevance of the UN and criticized its priorities.
Global politics have further complicated matters. Deepening tensions between the United States, Russia and China — all permanent members of the Security Council with veto power — have left the council largely paralysed. This month, Trump also unveiled a “Board of Peace,” which critics see as a potential rival to the UN.
“A Kafkaesque Cycle” for the UN
Adding to the strain, the UN is required to reimburse member states for unspent funds, even when it does not have the cash on hand to do so. Guterres described the situation as a “Kafkaesque cycle,” saying the organisation is being asked to return money that does not exist.
In his final annual address this month before stepping down in 2026, Guterres painted a bleak picture of the global landscape, citing deep geopolitical divisions and repeated violations of international law. He also condemned sweeping cuts to development and humanitarian aid, an apparent reference to reductions tied to the Trump administration’s “America First” policies.
Without urgent action from member states, Guterres warned, the UN’s ability to operate effectively could soon be at serious risk.
