The UN budget is now in the “sharp focus” of the US administration, as one UN official told Bernama on the condition of anonymity. Readers commenting on news reports in various US media outlets have applauded Haley’s announcement about the US$285 million cut in the UN budget. The US paid some US$1.2 billion of the US$5.4 billion UN operating budget for the last fiscal 2016-2017. Furthermore, the US also provides the largest share of 28.5 per cent to a separate UN peacekeeping budget of US$6.8 billion for 2017-2018. The US is furthermore seeking a US$250 million cut to the UN budget for 2018-19, on top of US$200 million in savings already proposed by UN Secretary-General Guterres.

Source: New Strait Times December 27, 2017 03:00 UTC