German Foreign Minister Warns Countries Can't Cover Disadvantages If US Withdraws Funding For UN Troops

JAKARTA - Countries will not be able to cover the gap if the United States withdraws its funding for the United Nations peacekeeping mission, the German Foreign Minister said on Wednesday.

"We will not be fully able to cover the gap if the US withdraws peacekeeper funds," Johann Wadephul said at a joint press conference at the UN Peacekeeping Ministers Meeting in Berlin.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres acknowledged that the Blue Helmets peacekeeping mission faced serious liquidity issues and urged countries to pay their contribution in full and on time.

Separately, the White House budget office has proposed the abolition of funds for the UN peacekeeping mission, citing a failed operation in Mali, Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to an internal planning document seen by Reuters in April.

Washington is the largest contributor to the United Nations - followed by China - which accounts for 22 percent of the UN's core budget of US$3.7 billion and 27 percent of the peacekeeping budget of 5.6 billion US dollars. This payment is mandatory.

The future of peacekeeping is being discussed in the two-day high-level political forum, with member states promising support for UN operations.