UN Chief: US Debt Non-Negotiable, Reforms Separate

0:00On April 30th, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres made a crystal clear the billions of dollars the United States owes the world body is non-negotiable. This hits after reports that Washington is holding those funds hostage, linking release to a list of UN reforms. Earlier this week news outlets detailed two U.S. diplomatic notes pushing nine fast-track changes. They focus on slashing costs even deeper and curbing China's rising cloud inside the U.N. Guterres has been out front on reform drives, nudged hard by members like the U.S. promising to make the organization leaner and better at delivering. Results. Still, he insisted those efforts stand apart from settling the do's bill. Among the demands, revamping the U.N. pension setup, banning long haul business class flights for senior and mid-level staff, trimming top ranks. Further, and cutting 10% from lagging peacekeeping missions, they also want to stop China from funneling tens of millions yearly into a discretionary fund run by the Secretary General's office.

1:04The U.S. mission stayed silent on the reports, but America has been ramping up pressure all year exiting dozens of UN agencies and docking millions in, prior funding. With reforms rolling and debts looming, the standoff shapes up as a test of global give and take. World News. Powered by AI. This is Global News Today. I'm Corey with the story.