A U.K. diplomat, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said there was “significant concern” that if Trump decides to slash or even stop budget contributions to the organization, “it will become very problematic very quickly.”
Two other U.K. officials spoke of misgivings about Trump’s targets on the international stage, with one commenting: “He’s erratic, and you just never know what you’re going to get.”
Richard Gowan, U.N. director for the Crisis Group NGO, said: “Senior U.N. officials are pretty convinced that a second Trump administration would impose even more savage financial cuts.”
Asked about Trump’s plans for the U.N., Karoline Leavitt, press secretary for his campaign, said: “President Trump will restore world peace through American strength and ensure European nations carry their weight by paying their fair share.”
Track record
The last time Trump held office he took an ax to funding for the U.N. Population Fund, the U.N. Program on HIV/AIDS, its Relief and Works Agency for Palestine, and the World Health Organization. He later moved to withdraw from the WHO completely.
Trump also tried to cut aid to U.N. peacekeeping efforts by almost half a billion dollars. Although Congress rejected the plan, it agreed to enforce a cap on contributions, while the General Assembly significantly cut peacekeeping missions under pressure from Trump.