The United Nations is approaching its 80th anniversary weaker and more hollow than ever. President Donald Trump captured a growing global impatience in his recent general assembly address by bluntly asking, “What is the purpose of the United Nations?” He ridiculed the institution for producing only “empty words” and accused it of “funding an assault on Western countries and their borders.” His central message to world leaders was unvarnished: “Your countries are going to hell.”

Days earlier, the secretary-general’s office released a draft 2026 budget amid a severe liquidity crisis. Although the overall budget is set to shrink by 15%, the burden falls disproportionately on junior staff, with cuts as high as 28% in some categories. By contrast, the top echelon remains nearly untouched,

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