Britain’s reduction in aid spending has been highlighted as a potential advantage for China and Russia in undermining the United Nations, according to a report by the Commons committee. The report, released ahead of the UN General Assembly week, urges the UK government to reinstate the aid budget and support for multilateral organizations to avoid creating opportunities for adversaries.
Earlier this year, the government announced a plan to lower aid spending to 0.3% of national income to prioritize increased defense funding. This decision followed a previous cut by the former government, reducing the aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5% of national income, a target that was legally mandated.
Additionally, the budget for the Foreign Office division handling multilateral institutions, including the UN, has been slashed, decreasing by 65% from 2024/25 to 2025/26.
Committee chair Dame Emily Thornberry expressed concern that these cuts could benefit China and Russia, allowing them to assert disruptive influence within the UN. She emphasized the need for the UK to use its respected status to challenge these actions more assertively.
The report arrives ahead of a critical week at the UN General Assembly in New York, marking the organization’s 80th anniversary. The UK is anticipated to formally acknowledge Palestinian statehood during the assembly, a move that Dame Emily sees as a demonstration of the UN’s enduring significance.
The committee’s report warns of increasing division and polarization at the UN Security Council, with tensions between Russia and China on one side and the UK, France, and the US on the other. MPs urge the government to resist efforts to weaken the UN, emphasizing the importance of strategic multilateralism and commitment to international order based on established rules.
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