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UN-US-BUDGET
UN fails to reach deal on budget shortfall as US funding dips
UNITED NATIONS, United States, Dec 22, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – United Nations
member states failed to come up with a deal Friday to make up for a $220
million budget black hole left by the United States downsizing its
contribution to peacekeeping operations, diplomats said.
The United States had paid around 28 percent of the UN peacekeeping budget
before President Donald Trump announced in September that Washington would
pay no more than 25 percent. That three percent shortfall represents around
$220 million.
The UN operating budget for 2018-19 is around $5.4 billion, and the US
pays around a fifth of that. The separate peacekeeping budget is in excess of
$6.6 billion — cut last year by $600 million under US pressure.
Peacekeeping financing is determined by a complicated formula that takes
into account a country’s wealth, its standing as a permanent Security Council
member and other factors.
China’s strong economy has meant that its share of the peacekeeping budget
has grown significantly to 15 percent, but other permanent council members,
such as Russia, pay less than five percent.
Since Trump came to office in early 2017, the United States has refused to
pay more than 25 percent of the peacekeeping budget.
The UN’s financial shortfall will continue to grow after a consensus
reached overnight to maintain the status quo on key budget issues for another
three years, diplomats said.
One diplomat said Washington had in recent week approached several member
states and tried to enlist them to pick up some of the slack for the money
the Trump administration is no longer willing to pay.
“They realized they weren’t getting anywhere and gave up,” said the
diplomat, adding that the US approached Brazil, India, Turkey, Mexico, Saudi
Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Brunei.
The US mission to the world body did not respond to questions on the issue
Friday.
Diplomats said the so-called Group of 77 plus China — in reality a group
of 134 nations — tried to establish a way of making the European Union pay
for its observer status at the UN.
The EU refused, citing the fact that European states already pay 32
percent of the UN operating budget and 30 percent of the peacekeeping costs,
according to diplomats.
BSS/AFP/HR/0944