Diplomatic Effort to Reduce America's Peacekeeping Dues Must Start Now

"The Trump Administration has repeatedly stated its desire to lower the amount that America pays for the United Nations peacekeeping budget to 25 percent in compliance with U.S. law enacted under President Bill Clinton in 1994. President Trump reiterated this objective in his September speech to the U.N. stating that the 'United States bears an unfair cost burden' and 'that no nation should have to bear a disproportionate share of the burden, militarily or financially.'

The Trump Administration is correct to call for changes. However, convincing the other U.N. member states to adopt a maximum peacekeeping assessment of 25 percent will not be easy. In practical terms, this means reducing the U.S. assessment from nearly 28.5 percent to 25 percent. This is equivalent to more than $250 million each year that will have to be paid by the other 192 U.N. member states.

Simply announcing the goal is insufficient. Securing a 25 percent peacekeeping assessment by December 2018 for the 2019–2021 scale of assessments will require sustained diplomatic effort led by the U.S. Mission in New York, timely engagement and pressure by the State Department and the White House, and congressional resolve in enforcing the cap on peacekeeping contributions until a maximum assessment of 25 percent is adopted..."