U.N. Chief Urges Leaders To Shift War Spending to People as 2026 Begins
As 2026 began amid escalating global challenges, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a New Year’s message filled with both urgency and optimism, calling on world leaders to reset priorities and redirect resources from war toward peace, development, and people.
“The world stands at a crossroads,” Guterres said, warning that ongoing conflicts, accelerating climate damage, and repeated breaches of international law are eroding public confidence in leadership. Across regions, he said, people are questioning whether those in power are truly listening ? and whether they are willing to act.
Global suffering continues to mount. More than one-quarter of the world’s population now lives in conflict-affected areas, according to the United Nations. Additionally, over 200 million people need humanitarian aid, while nearly 120 million have been forced from their homes by war, disasters, crises, or persecution.
All the while, a troubling imbalance casts a shadow on global spending. Military expenditures climbed to a record $2.7 trillion last year, nearly 10% higher than the year before. That total is 13 times greater than global development aid and roughly equal to the combined gross domestic product of the African continent. If current trends persist, military spending could surge to $6.6 trillion by 2035, even as humanitarian needs continue to grow.
Still, Guterres said the situation is far from hopeless. In September 2025, he released a report titled “The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future,” which argues that modest shifts in funding could bring dramatic change.
The report finds that less than 4% of current military spending could eliminate world hunger by 2030. Redirecting just over 10% could vaccinate every child, while shifting 15% would fully cover annual climate adaptation costs in developing nations.
“The world has the resources to lift lives, heal the planet, and secure a future of peace and justice,” Guterres said.
Yesel Kang Copy Editor teen/1768800079/1613367659
1. Who called for redirecting military budgets to global development?
2. What record amount was spent on military expenditures last year?
3. Where do conflict-affected people currently live around the world?
4. Why did Guterres describe the world as being at crossroads?
1. Why do countries spend more on weapons than on hunger?
2. If you were a world leader, what would you fund?
3. How can we convince leaders to prioritize peace over war?
4. Do you believe redirecting budgets can truly solve world hunger?
As 2026 began amid escalating global challenges, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a New Year’s message filled with both urgency and optimism, calling on world leaders to reset priorities and redirect resources from war toward peace, development, and people.
