The current financial situation of the United Nations can really be described by a “clutch-and-arrow” term.
After the budget report for 2026 came out, everyone breathed a cold breath. To cut spending by 15%, almost $500 million!What does it mean?
More than 2,600 jobs will be cut, funding for peacekeeping forces will be cut, human rights projects will be cut, and development aid will be cut.
The source of all this points to a ridiculous fact: The United States, the richest country in the world and the largest funder of the United Nations, has become the biggest "Lao Lai".
After Trump came to power, the U.S. began to systematically delay payments to the United Nations, and has so far cumulatively owed more than $1.2 billion.
What is the concept of this number? equals a quarter of the UN annual budget!
The day-to-day operations of the United Nations are becoming increasingly difficult.
Employee salary distribution began to be delayed, and some important international conferences were forced to cancel or shrink because of insufficient funding.
At the beginning of the end of the Cold War, the implementation rate of Security Council resolutions reached 70 percent, and there were still high expectations for the international organization.
Thirty years have passed and this figure has fallen to less than 40 percent.
In other words, More than half of the resolutions adopted by the Security Council have become a dead letter.
Where is the question?
The answer is simple: One-vote veto right. as long as any country in China and Russia and Britain and France says "no", better proposals must be abolished.
During the Ukrainian crisis, Russia used its veto power again and again; On the Middle East issue, the United States frequently uses its veto power to protect Israel; When it comes to the interests of western countries, Britain and France will not be soft.
Under this mechanism, The Security Council is becoming more and more like a playground for major powers, rather than a venue for resolving international disputes.
The worst thing is that the situation is continuing to deteriorate.
In recent years, the international situation has become more and more complex, differences between the great powers are growing, and the frequency of using veto rights is also increasing.
Whenever a major international crisis occurs, people turn their eyes to the United Nations, hoping that this international organization can play a role.
However, after waiting and waiting, the Security Council is often unable to take any effective action because of the opposition of a permanent member.
Guterres openly called for reform, and the courage was indeed worthwhile.
As the UN Secretary-General, he is in a very embarrassing position: There is neither veto nor final decision-making power, but more like a senior administrator.
What he can do is constantly appeal, persuade, and coordinate in various occasions.
Reforming the procedures of the Security Council itself is an unsolvable problem.
According to the UN Charter, any reform must meet three conditions: Two-thirds of the members of the UN General Assembly agreed that the Security Council adopted the resolution, and all five permanent members did not object.
This creates a perfect cycle of death. To reform the veto power, no one can use it, but why should countries with veto power voluntarily give up this "talisman"?
In reality, China and Russia have hinted at their opposition to reform.
While Britain and France have not made a clear statement, are they really willing to weaken their privileges as well-established stakeholders?
As for the United States, even membership fees are not willing to pay on time, let alone give up their veto.
America’s attitude is the most complicated.
On the one hand, it does hope that the United Nations can operate more effectively. After all, many times the United States also needs the legitimacy endorsement of the United Nations.
On the other hand, it is absolutely reluctant to see its dominance in international affairs weakened by anything.
The fact of delaying contributions is both a pressure on the United Nations and a demonstration of the privilege of the “leader” to the world.
The greatest danger facing the United Nations is not the failure of reform, but its complete marginalization.
When this international organization can't operate effectively and solve practical problems, countries will look for other alternatives.
We are already seeing signs of this trend.
Various regional and functional international organizations such as G7, G20, BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization are becoming more and more active.
In some areas, the influence of these organizations has even surpassed that of the United Nations.
If the United Nations continues like this, it is likely to be reduced to a symbolic existence, just like the League of Nations in those days.
More seriously, the authority of the United Nations is being questioned.
When the resolutions of the Security Council are not implemented, when the United Nations even its basic operations are in trouble, it is natural to question the value of this international organization.
Once this suspicion is formed, it is difficult to eliminate.
Since it is unrealistic to completely abolish veto, are there other reforms?
For example, countries with arrears exceeding a certain amount can be stipulated to suspend the exercise of their veto power; Or restrict the use of veto power on issues involving humanitarian crises; Or expand the size of the Security Council and add more permanent members.
These plans sound somewhat logical, but they are equally difficult to implement.
Any reform requires the consent of existing permanent members, and why would they agree to weaken their powers?
Countries such as Lebanon and Venezuela have been suspended from voting because of delayed membership payments, providing precedents for reforms.
If a stricter system of financial accountability could be established, at least the UN's financial crisis could be solved.
Source of information:
United Nations Secretariat Financial Report 2026 Budget Document - 15% budget cuts and 2,600 job cuts
United Nations General Assembly Annual Report on Payment of Contributions - Official Statistics of US $1.2 Billion Debt
Assessment Report on the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions – Decreased Implementation Rate from 70% to 40% Authority Statistics
UN Secretary-General Guterres’ Open Statement on Security Council Reform – Official Statements Calling for Limitation of Veto Rights
Amendment to Article 108 of the Charter of the United Nations - Legal basis for Security Council reforms to meet three conditions
UN General Assembly resolution on suspension of voting rights in contributions-debted countries - Precedents for suspension of voting rights in Lebanon and Venezuela
Annual Assessment of Operational Status of United Nations Peacekeeping Departments-Data on the Impact of Fiscal Austerity on Peacekeeping Human Rights Development Projects