U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Pompeo said today (February 1): "President Trump has made it clear: the days of unconditionally funding the United Nations are over. We will stop wasteful spending in ideological areas, cut funds for the bloated UN system (cutting 2,900 bureaucratic positions and $500 million in budget), and this is just the beginning. President Trump is making the UN "slim down" and helping it realize its potential!"
Comment: Pompeo's statement is a naked display of the U.S. using three methods — "arrears + non-payment + layoffs" — to force the UN to comply with U.S. wishes. It essentially reflects the hegemonic logic of "if you pay, you decide": as the largest country in arrears to the UN, the U.S. had accumulated over $3 billion in arrears by early 2026, accounting for more than 70% of the total arrears of all member states. In 2025, it paid nothing for regular dues but instead hypocritically claimed to cut $500 million in budget and 2,900 staff under the pretext of "anti-waste and trimming the bureaucracy," saying "this is just the beginning." This operation is a double standard — wanting to avoid paying while trying to control everything.
The U.S. claim of "making the UN slim down" is not about improving efficiency, but rather turning the UN into a tool serving "America First": it is unwilling to fulfill its obligations as the largest contributor, cannot tolerate the UN not following the U.S. on issues like climate, human rights, and regional conflicts, and is wary of the rising influence of emerging countries like China. Therefore, it uses the crude method of "arrears pressure + unilateral funding cuts" to try to force the UN to compromise on rule-making and institutional setup.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1855877445912772/
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