US pays $160m to United Nations from over $4b debt

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United States has partially paid approximately $160 million of its more than $4 billion debt to the United Nations.

Reuters, citing a UN spokesperson, reported that the payment was received last week as part of the United States’ outstanding arrears to the UN’s regular budget.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, speaking at the inaugural meeting of the so-called “Board of Peace” initiative in Washington, said his country would provide financial support to strengthen the United Nations.

“We will assist them financially and ensure that the United Nations remains strong. The United Nations has tremendous potential, but it has not yet realized that potential,” he said.

The United States is the largest contributor to the UN budget. However, during Trump’s presidency, Washington withheld its mandatory contributions to the regular budget and peacekeeping operations and reduced voluntary funding to UN-affiliated agencies. It also withdrew from dozens of UN-related bodies.

According to UN officials, as of early February, the United States owed $2.19 billion to the UN’s regular budget, accounting for more than 95 percent of the total arrears owed by member states worldwide.

In addition, the US owes $2.4 billion for current and past peacekeeping missions and $43.6 million for UN-affiliated tribunals.

sa