Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
December 29, 2025 UN
As we look towards 2026, the UN Secretary-General has called on world leaders to "prioritize" and invest resources in development rather than destruction.
In his New Year's message, António Guterres emphasized that humanity is at a crossroads, with chaos and uncertainty all around, and people around the world wondering whether their leaders are listening and willing to act.
According to Guterres, the scale of human suffering today is unprecedented: more than a quarter of the world's population lives in regions engulfed by conflict, over 200 million people require humanitarian assistance, and nearly 120 million have been forced to flee their homes due to wars, crises, natural disasters, or persecution. Against this backdrop, the UN chief noted, the rapid growth of global military spending, which has reached $2.7 trillion, is particularly alarming, having increased by almost 10 percent in a year.
To create a safer world, we must first invest more in fighting poverty and less in waging wars.
If current trends continue, global military spending could more than double to $6.6 trillion by 2035. By comparison, the current level of $2.7 trillion is 13 times the sum of all international development assistance and comparable to the combined GDP of the entire African continent.
"In the new year, let us resolve to get our priorities right. To create a safer world, we must, first and foremost, invest more in fighting poverty and less in waging war. Peace must prevail," Guterres emphasized.
In September 2025, on the instructions of the UN Member States within the framework of Pact for the Future, a report was published that revealed profound imbalances in global spending and showed that even a small budget adjustment could radically change the situation in the world. The report data is provided that less than four percent of current military spending would be enough to end hunger by 2030; just over ten percent would be enough to fully vaccinate all children; and five trillion dollars could provide 12 years of quality education for every child in low- and middle-income countries.
The study also found that civilian investment creates significantly more jobs and produces fewer emissions than military spending, and that redirecting just 15 percent of the military budget could fully cover developing countries' annual climate adaptation needs.
“The world has all the resources it needs to improve people’s lives, restore the planet, and ensure a future of peace and justice,” Guterres said.
The UN chief concluded his address with a call for world leaders to "get serious": "Let's choose people and planet over pain… Our future depends on our collective commitment to action. In this new year, let's join forces. For justice. For humanity. For peace."
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