As previously reported by Kommersant, the UN is awaiting the payment of 2026 contributions from its two largest donors: the United States and China.
If the funds are not received, the organization will have to postpone other payments in order to ensure the holding of “High-Level Week”—the main annual session of the UN General Assembly in New York, attended by many world leaders.
According to Ramanathan, the organization is preparing for the UN General Assembly session by “raising funds and suspending other payments.” He even suggested that member states cancel the event due to funding issues.
According to Bloomberg, the U.S. has yet to pay the UN $2 billion in back dues from previous years. China, meanwhile, owes the organization approximately $430 million. Ramanathan said that China typically pays in installments and will likely partially settle its debt in the coming months. The U.S. has also promised to make payments soon.
In early 2026, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the organization would run out of funds by July. But thanks to spending cuts, according to Ramanathan, the UN managed to save enough funds to operate through the end of the summer.
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