The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has expressed deep regret over the decision by the United States to withdraw from a number of United Nations entities, stressing that assessed financial contributions to the organisation remain a legal obligation for all member states under international law.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, the UN chief reacted to the White House’s announcement, describing the development as unfortunate while reaffirming the organisation’s resolve to continue its work globally.
UN Emphasises Legal Nature of Member Contributions
According to the statement, Guterres underscored that funding commitments approved by the United Nations General Assembly are binding on all member states, including the United States.
“As we have consistently underscored, assessed contributions to the United Nations regular budget and peacekeeping budget, as approved by the General Assembly, are a legal obligation under the UN Charter for all Member States, including the United States,” the statement read.
Akahi News gathered that assessed contributions form the backbone of the UN’s operations, funding peacekeeping missions, humanitarian interventions, and core administrative activities across the globe.
UN Vows To Continue Its Mandates
Despite the decision by the United States, the Secretary-General assured that the United Nations and its agencies would continue to function and carry out their responsibilities as mandated by member states.
“All United Nations entities will go on with the implementation of their mandates as given by Member States,” Guterres said.
Reaffirming the organisation’s global responsibility, he added that the UN remains committed to serving vulnerable populations and countries that rely on its interventions.
“The United Nations has a responsibility to deliver for those who depend on us. We will continue to carry out our mandates with determination,” he stated.
The same position was echoed on the UN’s official social media platforms, where the organisation reiterated its commitment to remain focused on its global responsibilities despite the withdrawal decision.
Context Of The US Withdrawal Decision
Akahi News learnt that the development follows a directive reportedly issued by United States President Donald Trump, ordering the country’s withdrawal from 66 international organisations.
The move has been described by observers as one of the most extensive rollbacks of US participation in multilateral institutions in modern history.
According to reports, a White House Fact Sheet released on January 7, 2026, indicated that President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the withdrawal from organisations said to “no longer serve American interests.”
The directive reportedly instructs all executive departments and agencies to halt participation in and funding of 35 non-UN organisations and 31 United Nations entities, which were described as operating contrary to US national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty.
Implications For Global Multilateralism
Analysts believe the decision could have far-reaching implications for global multilateral cooperation, especially in areas such as peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, climate action, and public health, where the United Nations plays a central coordinating role.
However, the UN leadership has maintained that the organisation’s work will not be derailed, emphasising collective responsibility and international solidarity among remaining member states.
As Akahi News continues to monitor developments, attention is expected to focus on how the withdrawal may affect specific UN programmes and the broader future of international cooperation.
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