Overview
- Guterres, who spoke Thursday, said assessed contributions are obligations of member states and cannot be bargained over.
- Devex reported this week that two U.S. diplomatic notes tied the release of more funding to nine quick reforms, and the U.S. mission has not commented on the reports.
- The reported U.S. asks targeted cost cuts that include overhauling the UN pension system, ending long-haul business-class travel for many staff, trimming senior ranks, and cutting some long-running peacekeeping missions by 10 percent.
- The notes also sought to block China from routing tens of millions of dollars each year into a discretionary fund in the secretary-general’s office to curb Beijing’s influence.
- The UN said in February that the U.S. paid about $160 million toward arrears exceeding $4 billion, and Guterres said reform efforts will continue but remain separate from the legal duty to pay dues.