The United Nations is our best defense against World War III. Who will fight to save it when Trump wields his axe? |Simon Tisdall

tThe United Nations and its institutions have long struggled with funding shortages. Now, a deep-rooted problem is becoming a serious crisis in the shadow of Donald Trump’s execution’s axe. The United States is the largest contributor to the United Nations core budget, accounting for 22%. February, The White House announces The U.S. membership of all international organizations, conventions and treaties, including the United Nations, was conducted for a six-month review to reduce or end funds-and potentially cancel funds. Deadline deadlines for decapitation drop next month.

Trump’s abolition The scrapping of the United States International Development Agency (USAID), as well as most aid programs, has seriously undermined unleased and unsupported humanitarian actions that rely on discretionary funding. However, Trump’s axe symbolizes a more fundamental threat – a command against multilateralism and controversial international rules. Collective responsibility to maintain the fundamental concept of global peace and security, and cooperation to resolve common problems – embodied by the United Nations Its creation 80 years ago Last week – on the chopping block.

The bet is high – Washington is not the only villain. Like the United States, about 40 countries lag behind the annual dues they should have. Discretionary donations are declining. The UN Charter is a statement of establishing principles that has been severely damaged by failure to stop Russia’s illegal war of aggression in Ukraine (and last month’s U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran). China and others Including the UKignore international law when it is suitable for international law. Number and lifespan of conflicts The world is rising;United Nations envoys were eliminated; UN peacekeeping missions were derogated. The Security Council often rejects power. The conference was largely powerless. Through many measures, the United Nations does not work.

Closing is imminent. There is nothing to replace if the United Nations is allowed to fail or so reduce that its institutions cannot function fully. Nothing, i.e., seen in Gaza and other conflict areas besides the laws of the jungle United Nations agencies were excluded,,,,, Aid workers were murdered The legal norms are violated. There are many failures in the United Nations system, some of which are caused by themselves. But for most people in most places, a world without the United Nations will be more dangerous, hungry, poor, unhealthy and less sustainable.

The United States is not expected to withdraw completely from the United Nations (although there is nothing impossible for this isolationist, supranationalist president). But Trump’s hostile intentions are obvious. His budget proposal for 2026 Of all U.S. international spending, 83.7% cuts are sought – from $58.7 billion to $9.6 billion. This includes a reduction of 87% of the United Nations funding, both mandatory and discretionary funds. “In 2023, All The United States spends about $13 billion in the United Nations. That’s equivalent to 1.6% of the Pentagon budget that year ($816 million) or About two-thirds The money Americans spend on ice cream every year. ” Carnegie International Peace Donation. Economic development assistance, disaster relief and family planning programs will be eliminated.

Impact may change the world. Key joint agencies in the shooting line include UNICEF, UNICEF – At times when the risks faced by babies and children are daunting; World Food Program (WFP), which could lose 30% of its staff; agencies dealing with refugees and immigration are also shrinking; International Court of Justice (“World Court”), which illustrates Israel’s illegal actions in Gaza; and the International Atomic Energy Agency, which monitors nuclear activities of Iran and others.

Trump has boycotted the World Health Organization, the Palestinian Relief Agency (UNFA) and the UN Human Rights Commission $4 billion was cancelled allocated to the UN Climate Fund, claiming that all actions violate U.S. interests. If his budget is adopted this fall, the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals It may prove to be impossible. The U.S. financial support for international peacekeeping and observer missions at fault points such as Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kosovo, which currently accounts for 26% of total spending, will fall to zero.

From Somalia, Sudan to Bangladesh and Haiti, withdrawing USDA support has proven to be fatal. UN officials describe situations of conflict-style aid after earthquakes Myanmar is a “humanitarian disaster”. Research published on the Lancet finds Trump’s cuts could lead to More than 14 million people died By 2030, one-third of them will be children.

WFPThe world’s largest food aid provider says it is expected to have a funding deficit of $8.1 billion this year Acute hunger A record 343 million people impacted in 74 countries. Other donor countries failed to fill the gap left by the United States. So far in 2025, $46.2 billion has been proposed for 44 unconditional crises. Recently, the UK Cut aid budget Pay £6 billion and pay for nuclear bombs.

The UN chief acknowledged many of Trump’s early problems. Secretary-General António Guterres has initiated Thousands of layoffs AsUN80The reform plan consolidates the core budget and reduces the core budget by as much as 20%. However, Guterres said the serious challenge was the destructive attitude of member states, namely undermining multilateral cooperation, violating rules, failing to pay for their share and forgetting the reasons why the United Nations was first established. This is not an order menu. This is the bedrock of international relations,” he said.

Guterres said the biggest achievement of the United Nations since 1945 was to stop World War III. However, a respected analyst like Fiona Hill believes It’s already started. Britain and other democracies face some pressing problems. Will they succumb to Trump gently? Or will they fight to stop the traitor president and rogue states, such as Russia and Israel to tear down the world’s best defenses against global anarchy, eternal war and unnecessary pain?

Will they fight to save the United Nations?