UN: Global Military Spending Exceeds Aid 13 Times with Call for Peace

29 December 2025, 1:30 PM

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غوتيريش يكشف عن أرقام الإنفاق العسكري العالمي لعام 2025 - Guterres Reveals Global Military Spending Figures for 2025 — U.S. Mission Photo by Eric Bridiers, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Guterres: Global Military Spending Matches Africa’s GDP

UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that global military spending rose to $2.7 trillion in 2025, an increase of nearly 10% compared to the previous year. This amount is 13 times the total development aid and equals the combined GDP of Africa, amid ongoing armed conflicts at levels not seen since World War II.

In his New Year 2026 address, Guterres said the world stands at a crossroads, surrounded by “chaos, uncertainty, division, violence, climate disasters” and persistent violations of international law. He called on world leaders to invest more in fighting poverty rather than waging wars, emphasizing that the international community has the resources to improve quality of life and ensure a peaceful and just future.

Guterres: Global Military Spending Rising, World at a Crossroads — Xuthoria, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Secretary-General concluded his remarks by urging a united effort in the new year, stating: “Let us commit to setting our priorities correctly. Let us unite our efforts for justice, for humanity, and for peace.”