The Director for UN and Multilateral Diplomacy at the International Crisis Group, Richard Gowan, has raised alarm over the deepening financial crisis facing the United Nations, attributing much of the strain to the United States’ ongoing withdrawal from key aspects of the UN system.

In an exclusive interview aired on Citizen TV, Gowan warned that the UN is on the brink of scaling down critical operations due to shrinking budgets, even as humanitarian needs around the world continue to escalate.

“The United States is walking away from multiple parts of the UN’s work,” he said. “And that withdrawal is doing real damage not just to the institution’s credibility, but to its ability to respond effectively to crises on the ground.”

Gowan noted that the UN’s financial backbone has long relied heavily on contributions from two major powers the U.S. and China. With Washington reducing its engagement, he cautioned that Beijing is poised to become the dominant diplomatic player within the system.

“If the U.S. isn’t present, China inevitably steps into that space, becoming the most influential voice in multilateral diplomacy,” Gowan observed.

He went on to say that under former President Donald Trump, U.S. support for the UN sharply declined, driven largely by domestic political interests rather than a comprehensive foreign policy shift.

“The Trump administration showed very little interest in what the UN actually does,” he said. “Much of the criticism directed at the organization was politically motivated intended to rally a disillusioned Republican base rather than reflect any real policy vision.”

According to Gowan, this shift is unlikely to be reversed even with future changes in leadership. He stressed that the broader American political climate has become increasingly focused on domestic concerns, with foreign aid and multilateral support no longer seen as priorities across the political spectrum.

“As a result, the UN is being forced to consider deep cuts including in humanitarian programs that save lives,” he said. “We’re entering a period where global needs are growing, but the political will to support multilateral responses is shrinking fast.”