UN chief urges shifting $2.7T military spending to peace, development, and climate in 2026.

In a New Year's message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged world leaders to prioritize peace and development over military spending, pointing out that $2.7 trillion was spent on international military operations in 2025—nearly 10% more than the year before and 13 times more than development aid. He emphasized that more than 200 million people require humanitarian aid, nearly 120 million are displaced, and more than 25% of people live in areas affected by conflict. Guterres called on leaders to invest in people and the planet in 2026, emphasizing that a tiny portion of military budgets could be reallocated to end world hunger, vaccinate every child, and pay for climate adaptation in developing countries.