US plans $725 million payment towards its large UN debt

Washington and Geneva - In an effort to address its substantial debt owed to the United Nations, the administration of President Donald Trump has initiated a transfer of $725 million to the international organization, Reuters reported based on a congressional notification. This step, according to aid experts, is a positive development towards settling the significant amount of dues the U.S. owes.

No immediate reaction has been received from the administration regarding the rationale behind this payment, which comes from a government known for reducing funding to numerous U.N. agencies and criticizing the global body for not fulfilling its potential. The financial aid, announced in an August 4 letter from the State Department to Congress that has not garnered widespread attention, is scheduled to be disbursed before President Trump's anticipated address to the U.N.

General Assembly in New York later this month. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently warned that the organization is on the brink of a financial collapse due to unpaid contributions from member states, and the global body has had to implement substantial budget cuts. The $725 million payment would represent less than 20 percent of the over $4 billion the U.N. claims the United States owes in contributions as of May.