SS News Desk
Dhaka, 01 January, 2026:
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a strong New Year’s appeal to global leaders, urging them to shift priorities from military spending to human development, peace, and sustainability.
In his 2026 message, Guterres warned that the world is facing deepening chaos, with more than a quarter of humanity living in conflict-affected areas, over 200 million people in need of humanitarian aid, and nearly 120 million forcibly displaced worldwide. He highlighted that global military spending reached $2.7 trillion in 2024 and could rise to $6.6 trillion by 2035 if current trends continue.
Guterres emphasized that even a small reallocation of military budgets could have transformative impacts—ending world hunger, vaccinating every child, funding education, creating jobs, and supporting climate adaptation. He cited a UN report launched in September 2025, The Security We Need, which calls for rebalancing global spending toward peace and sustainable development.
“As we enter 2026, leaders must get serious,” Guterres said. “Choose people and planet over pain.”
