UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened his New Year message by emphasizing that the world is at a critical crossroads, with conflict, climate breakdown, and widespread violations of international law undermining trust in leadership. He questioned whether global leaders are truly listening and prepared to act in the face of escalating crises.
Guterres highlighted the scale of global suffering, noting that over a quarter of humanity now lives in conflict-affected areas. More than 200 million people require humanitarian assistance, and nearly 120 million have been forcibly displaced due to war, disasters, crises, or persecution. He drew attention to what he called a severe misalignment of global priorities, pointing out that global military spending reached $2.7 trillion in 2025—nearly 10 percent higher than the previous year and 13 times greater than total global development aid. He warned that if trends continue, military expenditures could rise to $6.6 trillion by 2035, even as humanitarian needs intensify.
Despite these challenges, Guterres underscored that solutions are achievable. He referenced the September 2025 report, The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future, which demonstrates how modest reallocations of military budgets could produce transformative outcomes. The report indicates that less than four percent of current military spending could end world hunger by 2030, slightly over ten percent could fully vaccinate all children, and redirecting fifteen percent could cover the annual cost of climate adaptation in developing countries. Guterres emphasized that the world already has the resources needed to improve lives, address climate challenges, and secure a peaceful future.
Concluding with a call to action, Guterres urged world leaders to realign priorities, investing more in reducing poverty and promoting peace rather than in military conflict. He called on citizens everywhere to contribute to a collective effort, stressing that the future depends on courage and action. He ended his message with a resolute appeal: in 2026, leaders must choose people and the planet over pain, uniting for justice, humanity, and peace.
