联合国“追欠”忙

Core Points - The United Nations is facing a significant financial crisis that threatens its existence, as Secretary-General António Guterres warns of potential bankruptcy if member states do not pay their dues on time [1][6] - The proposed budget for 2026 is set at $3.238 billion, a reduction of nearly $600 million from the initial draft and a 15.1% decrease from the 2025 approved budget, marking a new low in recent years [2] - The budget cuts will impact the UN's human resource capabilities, reducing the number of positions from the planned 13,800 to less than 11,600, affecting core areas such as human rights, sustainable development, and humanitarian aid [2] Financial Situation - The UN has already cut nearly $600 million in spending but still anticipates a deficit of over $450 million by the end of 2025, which will deplete almost all of its liquid reserves [1] - In the next two years, the UN will need to refund a total of $900 million to member states, further complicating its financial situation [1] Membership Dues - A significant factor in the crisis is the long-standing issue of unpaid dues by member states, with nearly one-third of the almost 200 member countries failing to pay their 2025 dues on time [2] - The United States, as the largest economy, has notably not paid any dues for 2025 and has over $3 billion in unpaid dues, which is equivalent to the entire 2026 regular budget [2][4] Structural Issues - The financial crisis highlights structural flaws in the UN's budget system, which cannot issue bonds or currency and struggles to enforce penalties on member states for unpaid dues [3] - The budget approval process requires consensus among all member states, which can lead to certain countries using unpaid dues as leverage for political pressure [3] U.S. Strategy - The U.S. approach to unpaid dues appears to be a strategic move to reshape the multilateral system to better align with its interests, rather than a result of financial constraints [4][5] - The U.S. has historically used unpaid dues as a diplomatic tool, keeping its debts below the threshold that would result in losing voting rights while maintaining influence over UN agendas [4] Global Governance Implications - The UN's struggle to collect dues reflects broader fractures in the global governance system, emphasizing the need for member states to recognize their international responsibilities [6] - Addressing this crisis requires a collective effort from all member states to enhance cooperation and reform mechanisms to revitalize the UN as a core platform for multilateralism [6]