President Donald Trump said the United States will provide money to the United Nations to strengthen the organization and help ensure it remains viable, speaking at the opening meeting of his Board of Peace on Thursday.
Trump framed the move as an effort to improve U.N. facilities and provide financial support where it is needed. He said: "Were going to strengthen up the United Nations. Were going to make sure its facilities are good. They need help ...were going to help them money-wise, and were going to make sure the United Nations is viable."
He added an assessment of the institutions unrealized capacity: "I think the United Nations has great potential, really great potential. It has not lived up to (that) potential."
The pledge from the president comes against the backdrop of U.S. funding practices under his administration. While the United States remains the largest contributor to the U.N. budget, the administration has refused to make mandatory payments to both the regular budget and peacekeeping budgets. In addition, it has significantly cut voluntary funding to U.N. agencies that maintain their own budgets.
The administrations stated new financial support is therefore notable alongside those existing policies: the United States is both the biggest contributor and has been selective in meeting mandatory and voluntary funding commitments. The presidents remarks at the Board of Peace opening session emphasized an intention to provide money "to make sure the United Nations is viable," while also expressing a view that the institution has not reached its full potential.
The comments leave open operational details such as timing, amounts, or the budget lines that would receive new U.S. funds. The public remarks were limited to the commitment to strengthen the U.N. and to the critique that it has not matched its potential.
Observers and stakeholders in international organizations and public finance will note the contrast between the administrations prior decisions on mandatory and voluntary payments and this stated willingness to provide funding. The precise effects on U.N. operations, agency programs, or peacekeeping endeavours will depend on follow-up decisions that were not detailed at the meeting.
Summary: The president announced that the U.S. will give money to the U.N. to strengthen it and improve facilities, while noting the U.N. has not lived up to its potential. This statement comes amid prior refusals to make mandatory payments to U.N. regular and peacekeeping budgets and cuts to voluntary agency funding.