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US Slashing United Nations Budget After Controversial Jerusalem Vote


The U.S. government says it has negotiated a significant cut in the United Nations budget.

In a statement on Sunday night, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations said that over $285 million would be cut from the U.N.’s 2018-2019 budget, which was a staggering $5.4 billion for fiscal year 2016-2017. The mission said reductions would also be made to the U.N.’s management and support functions.

The announcement didn’t make clear the entire amount of the budget or specify what effect the cut would have on the U.S. contribution.

According to PolitiFact, the U.S. accounts for 22% — about $3.3. billion — of the UN’s budget.

U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said that the “inefficiency and overspending” of the organization is well-known, and she would not let “the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of or remain unchecked.”

Haley added that the “historic reduction” in spending is a step in the right direction and that the US would make many other moves toward a more efficient and accountable UN “while protecting our interests.”

Haley’s announcement came just days after she slammed the UN for “singling out” the United States and voting on a resolution to oppose President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The former South Carolina governor went on the warpath last week over the UN’s resolution — and said the US would be “taking names,” as a result.

“The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out in this assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation,” Haley told member nations ahead of their vote.

“We will remember it when, once again, we are called up to make the world’s largest contribution to the UN, and we will remember it when many countries come calling on us to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit.”

Out of the 193-member General Assembly, 128 countries voted in favor of declaring Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem “null and void.”

A day ahead of the Jerusalem vote, Trump said he’d be closely eyeing the outcome and turning off the spigot for nations voting against the resolution.

“Well, we’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot. We don’t care,” the President said at the time.

Guatemala, meanwhile, became the first nation to follow Trump’s lead when it announced Sunday that it would be moving its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

President Jimmy Morales said he made the decision after discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Guatemala was one of the nine nations that voted against the UN’s resolution on Jerusalem.

The country has long had ties with Israel, especially in security matters.

No other country has chosen to move its embassy to Jerusalem since Trump’s decision, although the Czech Republic has said it is considering it.

(YWN / AP)



3 Responses

  1. “According to PolitiFact, the U.S. accounts for 22% — about $3.3. billion — of the UN’s budget.”

    ” the U.N.’s 2018-2019 budget, which was a staggering $5.4 billion for fiscal year 2016-2017.”

    I don’t own a fancy calculator but if I plug in the numbers I conclude that the U.S. is funding over 61% of the U.N. budget which is a far cry from 22%. I personally think it’s time for the U.S. to politely depart from this crooked institution which is simply taking our money and distributing it to peoples who hate us and who commit atrocities. I think any American citizen could put his or her portion of the money to better use than what it is currently being used for. TIME TO SECEDE!

  2. The regular UN budget is $5.4B for two years, or $2.7B a year. The US pays 22% of that, or $0.6B a year. But the regular budget is only the tip of the iceberg. When all is said and done, the US contribution is many billions more, and a bigger percentage of the total.

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