US President Donald Trump has criticised the United Nations as “not being well run”, although he said it has potential, while he stopped US engagement with the UN Human Rights Council, extended a halt to funding for the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA and ordered a review of the UN cultural agency Unesco.
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“It’s got great potential and based on the potential we’ll continue to go along with it, but they got to get their act together,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday. “It’s not being well run, to be honest and they’re not doing the job.”
“A lot of these conflicts that we’re working on should be settled, or at least we should have some help in settling them. We never seem to get help. That should be the primary purpose of the United Nations,” Trump said.
The UN pushed back against Trump’s remarks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “has worked tirelessly to implement many reforms … to increase efficiency and innovation,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
“US support for the United Nations has saved countless lives and advanced global security,” Dujarric said. “The Secretary General looks forward to continuing his productive relationship with President Trump and the US Government to strengthen that relationship in today’s turbulent world.”
The 15-member UN Security Council, of which the US is one of five permanent members, is charged with maintaining international peace and security.
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Trump said he was not looking to take away money from the 193-member world body, though he complained that Washington had to pay a disproportionate amount.
Washington is the UN’s largest contributor – followed by China – accounting for 22 per cent of the core UN budget and 27 per cent of the peacekeeping budget. The UN has said the US currently owes a total of US$2.8 billion, of which US$1.5 billion is for the regular budget. These payments are not voluntary.