The Latest: US says it pays too much of UN peacekeeping cost

The latest on U.S. saying it won’t pay over 25 per cent of the costs of U.N. peacekeeping (all times local):

8:20 p.m.

The United States says it will no longer shoulder more than a quarter of the multibillion-dollar costs of the United Nations’ peacekeeping operations.

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said so Wednesday at a Security Council meeting.

The U.S. is the biggest contributor to the U.N.’s 15 peacekeeping missions. The world body is assessing the U.S. about 28.5 per cent of this year’s $7.3 billion peacekeeping budget.

Haley said “moving forward,” 25 per cent will be the limit. The U.S. Mission to the U.N. later said that applies to the current peacekeeping budget.

President Donald Trump’s administration has complained about the expense before. At Washington’s urging, the current budget is $570 million below last year’s.

Haley says the U.S. will work to ensure cuts in its portion are done fairly.

The General Assembly sets the budget by vote.

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1 p.m.

The United States is saying it will no longer shoulder more than a quarter of the multibillion-dollar costs of the United Nations’ peacekeeping operations.

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said so Wednesday at a Security Council debate on peacekeeping reform.

The U.S. is the biggest contributor to the U.N.’s 15 peacekeeping missions worldwide. Washington is paying about 28.5 per cent of this year’s $7.3 billion peacekeeping budget.

President Donald Trump’s administration has complained before that the budget and the U.S. share are too high. At Washington’s urging, the current budget is $570 million below last year’s.

Haley said the U.S. will work to make sure cuts in its portion are done “in a fair and sensible manner that protects UN peacekeeping.”

The General Assembly sets the budget and respective contributions by vote.