The United States risks losing its United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voting privileges after failing to pay its 2025 contributions, UN officials confirmed this week. This development follows Washington's accelerated withdrawal from multilateral institutions under President Donald Trump's administration.
Financial Arrears Trigger Charter Enforcement
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed on Thursday that Article 19 of the UN Charter could suspend U.S. voting rights if arrears reach two years' worth of dues. The warning comes as the White House announced withdrawal from 66 international organizations through a presidential memorandum signed Wednesday.
Strategic Withdrawals Continue
Since President Trump's 2025 return to office, the U.S. has exited UNESCO, the World Health Organization, and the UN Human Rights Council. The administration maintains a 'selective funding' approach, supporting only UN programs aligning with its policy agenda according to recent media analyses.
Global Reactions Intensify
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated the legal obligation of all members to pay assessed contributions, while EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra criticized Washington's withdrawal from climate bodies as 'regrettable.' Dutch lawmaker Kathalijne Buitenweg warned that abandoning climate cooperation risks exacerbating extreme weather impacts.
European leaders emphasized the continued importance of multilateral climate frameworks despite U.S. policy shifts. The UN maintains it will continue operations for global beneficiaries regardless of funding challenges.
