UN Conference in Spain Targets $4T to Tackle Poverty Without US/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Global leaders gathered in Seville, Spain, to raise trillions needed to close the global development funding gap, with the United States absent from negotiations. The UN’s Seville Commitment outlines reforms to boost domestic revenues, increase development bank lending, and manage rising debt burdens. Organizers warn progress on development goals is slipping amid geopolitical tensions and economic pressures.
Quick Look
- Global conference in Seville seeks $4 trillion yearly funding
- US withdrawal complicates progress on development goals
- Seville Commitment proposes sweeping reforms and debt relief
Nations Gather in Spain for UN Push to Bridge $4 Trillion Development Gap Without US Support
Deep Look
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Delegates from around the world convened Monday in Seville, Spain, to launch an ambitious effort to raise trillions of dollars to close the widening gap between rich and poor nations—a task made significantly harder by the absence of the United States, which pulled out of the process earlier this month.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres opened the four-day Financing for Development conference by warning that the global “engine of development” is sputtering amid rising debt, falling investments, and growing protectionism.
“Financing is the engine of development. And right now, this engine is sputtering,” Guterres said. “We are here in Seville to change course, to repair and rev up the engine of development to accelerate investment at the scale and speed required.”
The conference, co-hosted by the U.N. and Spain, aims to reverse what Guterres called “backward” progress on development goals. Organizers hope to address a staggering $4 trillion annual funding shortfall, which has left millions without access to basic services like healthcare, education, and clean water—and derailed progress on the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged delegates to reject the narrative of rivalry and division dominating global discourse. “This summit is an opportunity for us to raise our voice in the face of those who seek to convince us that rivalry and competition will set the tone for humanity and for its future,” he told attendees.
More than 70 world leaders and thousands of officials, development experts, business leaders, and civil society groups are attending the gathering.
U.S. Withdrawal Casts Shadow Over Talks
However, the absence of the United States casts a significant shadow. Earlier this month, the U.S. withdrew its participation and rejected the conference’s proposed 38-page outcome document, which has otherwise been approved by consensus among the U.N.’s 193 member nations.
Despite Washington’s exit, the document—known as the Seville Commitment—is expected to be formally adopted during the meeting. It calls for sweeping reforms, including:
- A minimum tax revenue target of 15% of a country’s GDP to boost domestic resources.
- A tripling of lending by multilateral development banks.
- Greater incentives to attract private investment into critical sectors like infrastructure.
- New mechanisms to help manage ballooning debt in developing countries.
U.N. trade chief Rebeca Grynspan described the situation as dire, warning that development progress is backsliding. Last year, 3.3 billion people lived in nations that paid more in interest on debt than on health or education—a figure expected to rise to 3.4 billion this year. Developing nations are projected to pay $947 billion on debt servicing in 2025, up from $847 billion in 2024.
U.S. Concerns Over Global Financial Governance
U.S. diplomat Jonathan Shrier said at a June 17 preparatory meeting that Washington remains committed to international cooperation but objected to several elements of the outcome document.
He cited provisions he said interfered with the governance of global financial institutions, proposals to triple multilateral development bank lending capacity, and calls for the U.N. to play a more significant role in global debt architecture.
The U.S. also opposes certain language on tax coordination and trade policies that conflict with its domestic agenda.
Once the world’s largest provider of foreign aid, the U.S. dramatically scaled back its development assistance under President Donald Trump, who dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development and slashed funding for overseas programs. Other Western nations have also reduced foreign aid budgets in recent years.
U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed called the U.S. withdrawal “unfortunate,” emphasizing that many solutions under discussion will not succeed without American engagement.
“After Seville, we will engage again with the U.S. and hope that we can make the case that they be part of the success of pulling millions of people out of poverty,” she said.
Despite geopolitical tensions and economic headwinds, conference organizers remain determined to forge progress. The stakes, they warn, are too high to allow momentum on global development to stall.
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