The U.S. government has notified Congress of its plans to pay $850 million of the several billion it owes to the United Nations, the largest payment the Trump administration would make to the world body since it demanded sweeping reforms in exchange for continued support as its largest donor.

The State Department laid out its plans to transfer $725 million as part of its dues to the regular U.N. budget and $125 million toward U.N. peacekeeping operations in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to notifications sent to lawmakers this month and obtained by The Associated Press.

The U.S. is behind on about $5 billion in dues related to its U.N. membership, with more than $2 billion owed toward the regular budget and $3 billion for peacekeeping operations, the United Nations says.

  • redlemace@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Their national debt probably doesn’t allow any spending anymore, but foremost : Trump isn’t known for paying what he owes*

    • Tyra@lemmy.ml
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      3 days ago

      The U.S. pays roughly $3 billion a day just in interest on its debt, and another ~$3 billion a day on its imperial war machine. It could easily afford what it owes the UN. But withholding UN funds as a political weapon to enforce “reforms” (e.g. attacking Palestinians, China, and other Global South countries that dare not bend the knee) is a long-standing US tradition, dating back decades. Long before Trump.

      • redlemace@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        It was more meant as a sarcastic remark, but yes, it’s all about politics

        $3 billion a day

        Staggering! that’s like $8.5 per American per day. So roughly $260 per American, per month just for interest and war. Mum, dad and two kids: $1000.- every month.

    • SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca
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      2 days ago

      US hasn’t paid UN bills for decades. This isn’t even a Trump thing, it’s just a general US asshole thing.

  • Makhno@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    The UN is a toothless dog that regularly looks the other way with genocide. UN “peacekeepers” are as useful as tits on a bull.

    Fuck Trump, but also fuck the UN. Its just performative at this point.

    • frongt@lemmy.zip
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      3 days ago

      It’s supposed to be. The point is to get countries bogged down in diplomacy instead of starting wars.