On Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz announced that the United States intends to begin paying off a portion of its considerable financial dues to the international organization 'within weeks.' He emphasized that Washington will not abandon its relentless push for comprehensive structural reforms to ensure the UN operates efficiently. The U.S. has accumulated over $2 billion in unpaid dues towards the regular budget and an equal amount for peacekeeping operations.

During his remarks to reporters while visiting Geneva, Waltz did not disclose specific amounts that will be paid but underscored the U.S. administration's firm stance on demanding reforms. He stated that the U.S. should not be expected to pay without demanding efficiency improvements, insisting that agencies are required to achieve the same level of performance with reduced resources. This indicates a strong message from the U.S. that it expects a transformation in the workings of the UN before it meets its financial obligations fully.

Waltz also highlighted that the administration under former President Donald Trump was supportive of the UN reform initiatives launched by Secretary-General António Guterres last year, while expressing hope that these initiatives had begun earlier in Guterres's tenure. Furthermore, he raised concerns about the financial wisdom of maintaining the UN headquarters in one of the world's most expensive locations, suggesting a critical examination of the organization’s spending practices as contributions from major member states continue to strain under the weight of global challenges.