Guterres Says Billions Owed by US Are Non-Negotiable
Antonio Guterres rejected reports that the US is conditioning the release of billions in dues on reforms. He said these payments are a non-negotiable obligation.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters on Thursday that more than $4B in unpaid dues from the United States are non-negotiable. The statement follows reports that Washington has explicitly demanded nine specific organizational reforms as conditions for releasing the funds. Continued funding delays threaten the operational stability of global peacekeeping and development programs.
Guterres rejected the U.S. demand to link "assessed contributions" to cost-cutting measures and efforts to counter the influence of China. He stated that member state obligations are mandatory and separate from ongoing efficiency initiatives.
