In his message, Guterres pointed out that the financial liquidity of the UN has sharply deteriorated, jeopardizing the implementation of its core programs and commitments.
According to the Secretary-General, by the end of 2025, the organization will face an unprecedented level of unpaid mandatory contributions. The existing budget rule, which requires the UN to return unused funds to member states, creates a "paradoxical situation" where the organization is forced to return money it has not received.
Guterres warned that the crisis continues to deepen. If states do not begin to fulfill their financial obligations in a timely and complete manner, or if there are no changes to the UN's budget rules, the organization could exhaust its cash resources by July 2026.
The letter also mentions that the United States, as the largest contributor, has significantly reduced both mandatory and voluntary payments, negatively impacting the financial condition of the UN. However, specific debtor countries were not named.
The Secretary-General urged member states to fulfill their financial obligations or agree on a reform of the budget rules to avoid serious consequences for the work of key areas of the UN, such as peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance, and development.
