U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley announced on Sunday that the US will cut $285 million from its annual budget funding to the United Nations for the 2018-2019 fiscal year.
The announcement on the budget reduction comes barely a week after the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly 128-9 in favour of a non-binding resolution to denounce President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Ambassador Haley hailed the significant budget cuts as “A big step in the right direction” she said. She pointed out that the cuts would be “in addition to many other moves toward a more efficient and accountable UN.”
Currently, the U.S. is the single largest contributor to the UN funding over 22% of the budget with taxpayer funds, a contribution of around $3.3. billion annually.
President Trump and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley.
President Trump has been a constant critic of continued US funding of the institution which, despite the amount of taxpayer dollars poured into this institution, has for decades, shown its anti-American and anti-Israel stances through its many resolutions.
Even before he became President, then Candidate Trump had campaigned on the promise of pushing for a reduction of American financial funding to the global institution which he perceives as being more biased, leftist leaning and is long overdue for reform.
U.S. announced a $285 million funding cut for the U.N. budget on 24 December 2017. Credit: Reuters
“We will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of or remain unchecked,” said Ambassador Haley. “The inefficiency and overspending of the United Nations are well known,” she added.
A statement released by the U.S. Mission to the U.N. read as follows:
“In addition to these significant cost savings, we reduced the UN’s bloated management and support functions, bolstered support for key US priorities throughout the world, and instilled more discipline and accountability throughout the UN system,” read a statement released by the U.S. Mission to the UN.
U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley warned member states the U.S. will remember. Credit: AFP/Getty Images
Ambassador Haley also indicated that while the U.S. Mission was pleased with the results of the negotiated budget cuts, it would continue to “look at ways to increase the UN.’s efficiency…while protecting our (U.S.) interests.”
Last week, the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly 128-9 to reject President Trump’s decision on Jerusalem while 35 countries abstained. The non-binding resolution also declared Trump’s decision of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “null and void.”
The U.N. voted overwhelmingly 128-9 in condemnation of President Trump’s stance on Jerusalem. Credit: AFP/Getty Images
“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.
“We will remember it when we are called upon to once again make the world’s largest contribution to the UN and we will remember it when so many countries come calling on us, as they often do, to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit,” she said to member states before the vote.
The resolution which contested President Trump’s decision which was sponsored by Turkey and Yemen reaffirmed the U.N.’s known view on the issue and status of Jerusalem since the founding of modern day Israel in 1967.
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