GENEVA — Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has warned that the global community would struggle to compensate for a potential U.S. withdrawal from United Nations peacekeeping funding, highlighting the severity of the financial gap such a move would create. Speaking at a joint press conference during the U.N. Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, Wadephul said:
“We won’t be able to fully close the gap if the U.S. pulls out its financial support. The burden is simply too large.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres echoed the concern, noting that U.N. peacekeeping missions — often referred to as “Blue Helmets” — are facing critical liquidity challenges and called on all member nations to pay their contributions promptly and in full.
The warning comes amid reports that the White House budget office is considering eliminating U.S. funding for peacekeeping missions, citing underperformance in areas like Mali, Lebanon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Internal U.S. planning documents reviewed by Reuters indicate a proposed end to contributions that would significantly undermine the U.N.’s operational capacity.
The United States currently contributes 27% of the U.N.’s $5.6 billion peacekeeping budget, making it the largest single funder, followed by China. Washington also accounts for 22% of the regular $3.7 billion U.N. core budget. These payments are considered mandatory under U.N. financial frameworks.
The issue is a central focus at the ongoing two-day political forum on the future of peacekeeping, where U.N. member states are discussing new strategies and pledging support amid increasing global instability and conflict.