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The warning came from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a letter to ambassadors.
14:17, Fri, Jan 30, 2026 Updated: 15:36, Fri, Jan 30, 2026
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Image: Getty)
The head of the United Nations has warned that the organisation is at risk of "imminent financial collapse", amid Donald Trump's slashing of voluntary funding to its agencies. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cited outstanding membership fees and budget regulations that require unspent funds to be returned, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters on Friday.
"The crisis is deepening, threatening programme delivery and risking financial collapse. And the situation will deteriorate further in the near future," Mr Guterres wrote in a letter to ambassadors dated January 28. In the letter, he added that "decisions not to honour assessed contributions that finance a significant share of the approved regular budget have now been formally announced."
Donald Trump's has slashed voluntary funding to its agencies (Image: Getty)
He did not specify which state or states were involved. Issuing a stark warning, he said that could run out as early as July and that all Member States must honour "their obligations to pay in full and on time".
"Either all Member States honour their obligations to pay in full and on time – or Member States must fundamentally overhaul our financial rules to prevent an imminent financial collapse," he said.
Washington's move to withhold payments and freeze almost all future contributions means the UN is facing its gravest crisis in decades.
President Trump previously accused the organisation of "funding an assault on Western countries and their borders" through its support for migrants, and claimed it offered little help when he was ending "seven endless wars".
The US previously said it will contribute £1.4 billion in UN humanitarian aid, significantly below its usual funding levels.
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The announcement, made late last year, compares with up to £12.3 billion in annual funding the US has provided in recent years as the UN’s top donor.
This move follows the United States' absence from the annual UN international climate summit last year, marking the first time in three decades.
English (US) · 