I realize that it is only February. And that there undoubtedly will be many more entries.
But so far, this has to be Chutzpah Of The Year winner.
From Edith M. Lederer’s article for the Associated Press:
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations said Monday it’s waiting to find out how much of the nearly $4 billion the United States owes the world organization the Trump administration intends to pay and when the money will arrive.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned last week that the world body faces “imminent financial collapse” unless its financial rules are overhauled or all 193 member nations pay their dues, a message clearly directed at the United States.
The U.S. owes $2.196 billion to the U.N.’s regular operating budget, including $767 million for this year, according to a U.N. official. The U.S. also owes $1.8 billion for the separate budget for the U.N.’s far-flung peacekeeping operations, and that also will rise.
The U.S. Mission to the United Nations confirmed that U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz said the Trump administration planned to make a significant down payment on its arrears in a matter of weeks, with the final amount still to be determined. His comments were first reported by Reuters
That so?
Before we attack the United States for not paying “its fair share” (I love that line; so far as I an tell it is a synonym for “whatever I think I can get from them”), let’s see how much of the United Nations Budget the United States actually pays.
Multiple internet sources tell us that the United States – one member among 193 UN members – pays about 22% of the regular budget and 28% of the peacekeeping budget.
Does that seem logical to you?
And how do other countries stack up payments-wise? This table should give you an idea:
If that doesn’t make things clear, let me say it another way: without the United States there either is no United Nations, or you have China running it.
Bottom line? Just like with NATO (until Trump put his foot down and forced the European nations to pony up), we are paying wildly more than we should.
Hey, here’s an idea: how about a few of those oil-rich Arab states, or the European nations, paying just a tad more of the cost of the UN? Just spitballing here…
And here’s another idea. How about the United States turning the tables and assessing the United Nations? Looking at what it does and does not accomplish, versus the huge amount of money we have paid into it.
How do you think the UN would make out in that assessment? Not very well, I can assure you.
Look, I do not know how this issue is going to play out. But I can assure you I would be far happier if the USA maintains itself as a major contributor, but pays one hell of a lot less of the total budgets. I want China to pay one hell of a lot less too. And the rest of the world – especially Europe – to pay one hell of a lot more.
If not? To tell you the truth, given the condition of the current United Nations, and the disparity in its funding (which is paying for the organization’s current condition), I wouldn’t miss it. Not a bit.
