Will the Future of the UN be Dictated by a Hostile US?

Credit: United Nationsby Thalif Deen (united nations)Friday, August 28, 2026Inter Press Service UNITED NATIONS, August 28 (IPS) - As the UN commemorates its 81st anniversary, one lingering question remains: what is the future of the world body.?Will a hostile US downsize its operations at the United Nations, cut down its funding, continue defaulting in its payments — and perhaps eventually, withdraw from the world body? So far, the US has pulled out of three UN agencies and one UN-affiliated body — including the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)—and the Human Rights Council.Is the UN far behind.?Reports of a US visa denial to a Palestinian delegation to the General Assembly sessions next month, triggered several questions at a press briefing last week: “Don’t you think it’s a good idea to relocate the UN headquarters somewhere else in the world? Can the Secretary General initiate such a process? If there is such a process, how will it work? And will the United States take the United Nations hostage?”In his response, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters: “This is an issue...