“Some foreign publications have been critical of the United States’ failure to pay its U.N. membership fees. I believe that the United States is entirely justified in this. At least twice, the Soviets had withheld theirs when they did not approve of U.N. policies (peace actions in Egypt and what is now Zaire). The foreign press did not get very worked up about it. U.N. members have constantly found fault with the U.S. They abuse us on the one hand and expect handouts on the other. Parents of adolescents face similar problems. I personally never insist on respect from anybody, but those who did not give it to me need not bother asking me for any financial help.”
Standard Form
- United States failed to pay its U.N. membership fees, and U.N. has been critical of the United States.
- The Soviet Union has twice refused to pay membership dues to the United Nations because it does not agree with its policies.
Therefore,
- The foreign media treats the United States unfairly and harshly compared to the former USSR.
- Disrespectful people do not ask for financial help from the ones whom they disrespect.
- Teenagers act disrespectfully to their parents but rely on their financial support.
- U.N. members have constantly found fault with the U.S.
Therefore,
- U.N. members act like teenagers by seeking handouts from the US without being respecful.
Therefore (from 3 & 7),
C: The United States’ refusal to pay its United Nations membership costs was perfectly justifiable.
Some points for evaluation
The absence of debts is highly essential for the reputation of the United States. According to the argument, the United States of America has started to regain its superiority, with allies recognizing it as a great America again. After winning the presidential seat, President Biden rejoined major organizations such as the World Health Organization and Paris climate agreement treaties that were previously abandoned by the Trump administration. The dues have been accumulating for the last years, similar to the 1999 crisis when the U.S.A vote at the U.N. assembly was threatened due to a lack of U.S. payments to United Nations membership. Despite the global recession in 2009, the Obama administration agreed to pay the pending arrears for the support of U.N.-related missions. In the same way, partial or full payment of fees in support of U.N. activities will strengthen the United States’ position in the organization.
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Debts limit the country’s competitiveness in the international field, especially during the pandemic. After the outbreak of COVID-19, China has gained much credit over the U.S.A. for mitigating and helping nations recover from the impacts of the virus. America recorded the highest number of coronavirus fatalities, indicating some sought inferior capacity towards control and handling of natural disasters. China was able to control the virus, evidenced by the stagnated numbers of deaths, while other countries continued to record new deaths daily in 2020. The recognition of America as a superpower has continued to fade away, with nations such as China making headlines every day (Albright et al.). We need the leadership portrayed by previous presidents, such as Barrack Obama, who recognized the need to make U.S.A. great again through engaging in international communities and projects. Thus, the absence of debts will be of great significance to the United States to maintain its credit worth, leadership qualities, and authority as the world’s superpower.
I support the need for the U.S.A. to clear their debts not just for their benefit but also to support the existence of the U.N. As a leading example, America should ensure established global agreements are followed to maintain unity among nations and to facilitate globalization. Superior countries such as China engage in disagreements with the U.S. which is a factor undermining the potential and American capabilities. The argument is a viable source for criticizing compliance with the U.N. policies, which should be followed starting with the permanent members. Repaying debts eliminates any inconveniences or disagreements that could emerge or those existing between countries. I think it would be better for the U.S. to recover the U.N. debts to maintain smooth international relations.
Work Cited
Albright, Madeleine K., et al. “The United States Must Pay the United Nations What It Owes.” Foreign Policy, 2021, Web.