UN Tells Trump Administration US Has ‘Legal Obligation’ To Pay Dues

The United Nations has warned the United States that it remained legally bound to pay its assessed contributions, despite the Donald Trump administration’s decision to withdraw US from dozens of international organisations.

This followed Wednesday’s announcement by the White House that the US was pulling out of 66 international bodies, about half of which are affiliated with the UN.

Reacting on Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, through his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, stressed that financial obligations under the UN Charter remain binding on all member-states.

“Assessed contributions to the UN regular budget and peacekeeping budget, as approved by the General Assembly, are a legal obligation under the UN Charter for all member states, including the US,” Dujarric said.

He added that the affected UN programmes would continue their operations, saying, “The UN has a responsibility to deliver for those who depend on us.”

The withdrawal also means the US will halt funding for several global initiatives outside the UN system. US officials have previously signalled plans to cut billions of dollars in aid and funding for international organisations since President Trump began his second term.

Dujarric disclosed that senior UN diplomats learned of the decision through media reports and White House social media posts, with no formal notification sent to the organisation.

Among the initiatives affected are a major climate treaty and a UN agency focused on gender equality and women’s empowerment. President Trump said the bodies “operate contrary to US national interests.”

The US is the UN’s largest contributor, paying the maximum mandatory 22 per cent of the organisation’s regular budget. It currently owes about $1.5 billion and risks losing its General Assembly voting rights if the arrears persist.

“We’re not going to renegotiate the charter,” Dujarric added.

Meanwhile, Guterres has set up a reform task force, UN80, aimed at cutting costs and improving efficiency within the organisation.