UN Faces Imminent Financial Collapse, Warns António Guterres

Mon Feb 02 2026 15:01:01 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has issued a stark warning about the organization's growing financial crisis, potentially leading to a collapse due to unpaid dues from member states.

António Guterres has alerted member states about the UN's dire financial situation, stating that without immediate payment of dues, the organization risks running out of funds by July. The warning follows significant non-compliance from major contributors, particularly the United States, which has halted its full contributions and withdrawn from various agencies. Guterres emphasized the urgent need for either full payment or a reformation of the financial policies to stave off crisis.

The United Nations is at risk of imminent financial collapse due to member states not paying their fees, the body's head has warned.

António Guterres stated that the UN is facing a financial crisis that is deepening, threatening program delivery in a letter to all 193 member states, with money potentially running out by July if dues are not honored.

This situation stems from the UN's largest contributor, the United States, refusing to fully fund its regular and peacekeeping budgets, alongside other countries failing to pay their assessed contributions.

Guterres noted that while the UN General Assembly approved a partial reform of its financial system in late 2025, the organization still endures a severe cash crisis, worsened by a refund policy that has seen the UN return unspent funds to member states.

Warnings regarding the financial state are visible throughout the UN headquarters in Geneva, where escalators are switched off, and heating is reduced in an effort to conserve resources.

He cautioned that previous financial crises faced by the UN are now markedly different, with decisions of non-compliance threatening the integrity of the whole system.

In light of these circumstances, Guterres emphasized the urgent need for every member state to honor its financial commitments or for the UN to radically reform its financial regulations to prevent imminent collapse.

UN operations around the globe, including humanitarian work, are already suffering significant setbacks due to funding shortages, impacting vital services and support to those most in need.