Alwaght- US president is threatening to cut UN funding by half as the relations between the two is deteriorating.
Based on a report recently leaked to the media, US State department is threatening to cut UN funding by more than 50 percent, according to a report published by Foreign Policy on Tuesday.
The magazine said US diplomats have warned UN officials to “expect a big financial restraint” on Washington’s spending.
US relations with the UN deteriorated after the international body approved a resolution against Israeli illegal settlements though the former US government had refrained from vetoing the move.
US also faced the global organization when the secretary general decided to assign a former Palestinian authority as its commissioner to Libya.
"There are rumors of big cuts to the State Department budget, but again, on our side, no figures,” one US diplomat told donors, according to Foreign Policy.
The story comes just two days before the White House is expected to unveil a budget that will reportedly slash State Department funding by 37 percent.
The cut to the UN's US funding would be made as part of the overall dip in State Department funds.
The US currently provides the UN with about one-fifth of its budget, or roughly $10 billion annually. The monetary blow would affect peacekeeping missions, nuclear monitoring and vaccination efforts, among other programs.
Still, Foreign Policy reported that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will have latitude in determining how to implement the reduction.
On Thursday, many of the rumored cuts to various federal agencies will become clearer when the White House publishes its topline budget proposal. The cuts will likely be made in order to boost defense spending by $54 billion.
Trump has consistently derided US funding for international programs and institutions, including the UN, while lauding the importance of the Pentagon.
He said in December the global body is "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time.
"As to the UN, things will be different after Jan. 20th," he added on Twitter, referring to the date of his inauguration.