The United States welcomed the announcement of a $285 million reduction in the United Nations' annual budget for the fiscal year 2018-2019, calling it a "significant step in the right direction." The U.N. General Assembly approved a budget of $5.396 billion for the upcoming year on Sunday. This budget reflects a $285 million decrease compared to the last budget. The approved budget is less than the $5.4 billion requested by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The United States is the largest contributor to the U.N. budget, paying 22% of the main budget. Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., stated, "In addition to cost savings, we have reformed bloated management and support structures, increased support for U.S. key priorities around the world, and implemented better accountability and oversight across the U.N. system." Ms. Haley added that everyone was aware of the "inefficiency and excessive spending" of this global body. Nikki Haley said, "We will no longer allow the generosity of the American people to be abused or for there to be no accountability." Last week, Donald Trump, the U.S. President, threatened to cut funding to countries that voted in favor of recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel ahead of the U.N. General Assembly vote. This resolution was passed with 128 votes in favor and 9 against. Following the announcement of recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the U.S. declared that its embassy would be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Despite global reactions to the U.S. decision, on Monday, the President of Guatemala announced that his country's embassy in Israel would be moved to Jerusalem. Guatemala was one of seven countries that, alongside the U.S. and Israel, opposed the U.N. General Assembly resolution against Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
U.S. Welcomes $285 Million Reduction in U.N. Annual Budget
The U.S. has welcomed a $285 million cut in the U.N. budget for the fiscal year 2018-2019, viewing it as a positive reform. This move reflects ongoing tensions over U.S. funding and international recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The decision is significant as it highlights the U.S.'s influence in the U.N. and its stance on global priorities.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The U.S. welcomed a $285 million reduction in the U.N. budget for the fiscal year 2018-2019, viewing it as a positive step towards reform. This budget cut reflects ongoing U.S. concerns about U.N. efficiency and spending.
- The U.N. budget for the upcoming year is set at $5.396 billion, down from the previous year's budget.
- The U.S. contributes 22% of the U.N.'s main budget, making it the largest financial supporter.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The U.N. budget is crucial for funding international programs, and the U.S. has historically been a major contributor. Recent U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding Israel, has strained relations with many U.N. member states.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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