New york: The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ant³nio Guterres, has raised alarms over the financial stability of the organization, warning that it is on a path towards “bankruptcy” if member states do not fulfill their financial obligations promptly and in full.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Guterres presented the 2026 budget proposal to the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly, revealing a budget of $3.238 billion, which is 15.1% lower than the 2025 budget and significantly below the $3.715 billion initially requested. The concern arises from rising arrears and delays in payments, which he emphasized could drain the organization’s liquidity and impair its core operations.

Guterres cautioned that if the current trend continues, up to $600 million, approximately 20% of the budget, may have to be returned to member states in 2027. He highlighted that outstanding contributions at the end of last year amounted to $760 million, with an additional $300 million set to be returned to member states at the start of 2026, effectively depleting around 10% of available cash reserves.

The UN started 2025 with a deficit of $135 million and had received only 66.2% of assessed contributions by the end of September, a decrease from the 78.1% received during the same period in 2024. Out of 193 member states, only 136 have paid their dues in full, with major contributors such as the United States, China, Russia, and Mexico still pending full payment.