UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that soaring global military spending is draining vital resources from health, education, and job creation. He said heavy investments in weapons do not guarantee peace but instead weaken the foundations of global stability.
The UN chief stressed that investing in fighting poverty instead of wars would create a more secure and peaceful world. “A more secure world begins by investing at least as much in fighting poverty as we do in fighting wars,” Guterres said. He pointed out that global military spending hit a record USD 2.7 trillion last year and could rise to USD 6.6 trillion by 2035 if current trends continue.
Guterres highlighted that only 35% of the UN’s sustainable development goals are on track, with poverty, hunger, and inequality still pressing challenges. Redirecting even a fraction of today’s military budgets, he argued, could fund education, primary health care, clean energy, and resilient infrastructure.
He called on world leaders to rebalance budgets and channel funds into programs that benefit people directly. According to him, investing in poverty reduction is not just moral but also a strategic way to ensure long-term peace and stability.
