Trump Pledges U.S. Funds to Strengthen UN Despite Arrears

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States would provide funding to the United Nations to make the global body “stronger and more viable,” even as Washington remains the organisation’s largest debtor amid ongoing U.S. UN arrears.

Speaking in Washington during the first meeting of his newly created Board of Peace, Trump said the United Nations had an important role to play in global stability but needed financial support and structural improvement to function effectively.

He said the U.S. would contribute money and help improve UN funding, without giving details on timelines or total amounts.

• Trump pledges U.S. funds to strengthen United Nations despite arrears
• U.S. signals renewed UN engagement as funding shortfall persists
• Trump’s Board of Peace raises questions over UN role and authority

According to the United Nations, the United States owes more than $4 billion in unpaid contributions, covering UN peacekeeping budget, regular budget assessments, and international tribunal costs. U.N. officials said around $160 million of that amount has been paid so far. The shortfall has forced the organisation to delay payments, scale back programmes, and warn member states about cash-flow constraints affecting UN operations.

Trump’s comments marked a shift in tone from his earlier criticism of the United Nations, which he has often described as inefficient and unfair to U.S. taxpayers. During his previous term, the United States withdrew from several U.N. bodies and cut funding to agencies including the World Health Organization, shaping broader US foreign policy debates.

The newly announced Board of Peace is intended, according to Trump, to support conflict resolution and post-war reconstruction, including efforts linked to Gaza reconstruction. The initiative has raised concerns among diplomats, who say it could overlap with or weaken the authority of the UN Security Council, the body primarily responsible for maintaining international peace and security.

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U.N. officials have welcomed signals of renewed U.S. engagement but stressed that clearing arrears remains critical for the organisation’s stability. Analysts said Trump’s remarks reflect ongoing multilateral diplomacy challenges as global governance institutions face rising financial pressure amid growing international crises.