US pays $160 million of nearly $4 billion owed to UN

The United States has paid roughly $160 million of the nearly $4 billion it owes the United Nations, the U.N. announced on February 19, as President Donald Trump pledged additional funding to the financially strained organisation.

The payment, made last week, is directed toward the U.N.’s regular operating budget, U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The U.S. currently owes $2.196 billion to the regular budget, including $767 million for this year, and an additional $1.8 billion for U.N. peacekeeping operations.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned last month that the organisation faces “imminent financial collapse” unless member states meet their obligations, a clear reference to the United States.

He noted in a letter to all 193 member nations that funds for the regular budget could run out by July, which could severely disrupt U.N. operations.

U.N. officials say 95% of overdue payments to the regular budget come from the United States.

The announcement coincided with Trump convening the first meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, a new initiative originally intended to oversee the Gaza ceasefire but seen by some as a potential alternative to the U.N. Security Council in managing global conflicts.

While Trump has previously criticised the United Nations and withdrawn U.S. funding from multiple U.N. agencies—including the World Health Organisation and UNESCO—he took a more positive tone Thursday, promising closer collaboration.

“Someday, I won’t be here — the United Nations will be,” Trump said. “They need help, and they need help moneywise. We’re going to help them moneywise, and we’re going to make sure the United Nations is viable.”

He did not specify when future payments would be made.

Dujarric confirmed that Guterres has been in contact with U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz and other U.S. officials regarding the arrears. As of February 8, 55 countries had paid their 2026 annual dues on time.

By Aghakazim Guliyev