US Pays Only a Fraction of $4 Billion Debt to UN

The United States has paid only $160 million of its more than $4 billion debt owed to the United Nations (UN). This was announced by a UN spokesperson on Thursday, according to Reuters.

The payment coincided with the inaugural meeting of President Donald Trump’s "Board of Peace" initiative, which is viewed by some as a potential challenge to the UN’s authority.

According to UN data as of early February, the US debt to the organization is as follows:

• $2.19 billion – Regular UN budget (accounting for over 95% of the total debt owed by all member states).
• $2.4 billion – Peacekeeping missions.
• $43.6 million – UN tribunals.

The "Board of Peace" Initiative
At the opening of the Board of Peace, Donald Trump stated that Washington would provide funding to strengthen the organization.

"We are going to help them financially and make the UN viable. I think the UN has a lot of potential, but it hasn’t lived up to it yet," the US President said.

Trump established this board last month, initially proposing it as part of a plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip and manage the region temporarily. He later expanded the board's scope to address global conflicts.

UN experts have criticized the structure of this board, likening it to a "colonial system" and noting the absence of Palestinian representatives. Countries of the Global South and key Western allies of the US are reportedly hesitant to join the board under Trump’s chairmanship.

Notably, no UN representatives attended Thursday’s meeting of the Board of Peace.

It is worth noting that the Trump administration previously withdrew from dozens of UN agencies and significantly reduced voluntary funding.