U.N. assembly president presses U.S. to settle $4 billion arrears after $160 million payment

Annalena Baerbock, president of the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly, publicly pressed the United States to settle its assessed dues in full after Washington transferred about $160 million last week — a sum U.N. officials say represents less than 5% of the more than $4 billion the United States currently owes.

Speaking in Geneva while attending the U.N. Human Rights Council, Baerbock said U.N. rules leave no room for partial compliance. "UN regulations are crystal clear. Every member state has to pay its contribution in full and on time, and $160 million are obviously not in full," she told reporters at a press briefing. She described the fiscal situation facing the world body as "severe" and said delegations were already working to tighten spending.

A U.N. spokesperson confirmed the transfer of about $160 million and officials noted that the payment covers only a sliver of Washington's arrears. The shortfall has heightened concern inside the organization about near-term liquidity and the ability to sustain core programs and meetings while budget reforms are negotiated.

Secretary-General António Guterres has issued urgent warnings about the consequences of prolonged nonpayment. He has warned the U.N. could face "financial collapse" by June if member states do not settle outstanding assessments; other U.N. statements have described the risk as an "imminent financial collapse." Those public alarms have driven an accelerated reform agenda led by Guterres, with Baerbock working alongside him on the UN80 initiative launched last year as the organization edged toward insolvency.

The UN80 push has moved beyond planning into concrete cost controls. Baerbock said many of the measures were "long overdue," that delegations are "turning every stone" to reduce spending and that steps have included "limiting speaking times to contain meeting costs." Officials say the measures are aimed at preserving core functions while pushing member states to meet their legal obligations.

The diplomatic friction over dues comes as U.S. President Donald Trump last week hosted the inaugural meeting of a new "Board of Peace" initiative. International analysts have warned the board could complicate or undermine U.N. authority in certain theaters. Baerbock noted the Security Council had tasked the board with handling Gaza and stressed the institution she represents remains central for broader peace and security: "And for everything else regarding peace and security, we do have an international institution and legitimate body. It's called United Nations."

Baerbock's intervention signals rising impatience among U.N. leaders and member states for a resolution to a problem that has persisted into a third consecutive year of financial strain. With cash buffers dwindling and reform negotiations under way, the standoff over arrears places added pressure on the United States, the U.N.'s largest assessed contributor, to provide more than a stopgap payment if the organization is to avoid service disruptions and meet its mandates.