United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning to member states about the organization's worsening financial crisis, describing the risk of an 'imminent financial collapse' due to unpaid dues and restrictive budget rules. In a letter to ambassadors, Guterres emphasized that the situation is deepening and threatens the delivery of key programs. The United States, the largest contributor to the United Nations budget, has significantly reduced its voluntary funding and declined to make mandatory payments, further exacerbating the crisis. By the end of 2025, outstanding dues reached a record $1.57 billion, prompting Guterres to call for either full payment of obligations or a fundamental overhaul of financial rules to avert collapse. The letter comes amid broader shifts in international cooperation, with the United States retreating from multilateralism and new initiatives such as the Board of Peace raising questions about the future of global governance.