NEW YORK, UNITED STATES – NOVEMBER 12: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (not seen) hold a press briefing on the 9th African UnionUnited Nations annual conference at UN Headquarters in New York City, United States on November 12, 2025. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a New Year message released in Hindi for the first time, urged global leaders to prioritise development spending over military expenditure, warning that the world is engulfed by “chaos and uncertainty”.
“A safer world begins by investing more in fighting poverty and less in fighting wars,” Guterres said, calling on leaders to get global priorities “straight” as conflict, climate breakdown and violations of international law intensify.
The UN chief said global military spending has risen to $2.7 trillion, up nearly 10% from last year — about 13 times more than total development aid and roughly equivalent to Africa’s gross domestic product — underscoring what he described as misplaced global priorities.
Guterres said the world stood at a crossroads, with people increasingly questioning whether their leaders were listening or ready to act. “Peace must prevail,” he said.
The message was issued in Hindi text for the first time, while a video version also carried Hindi subtitles, as India continues efforts to promote the language at the United Nations.
Guterres, who will step down as UN secretary-general next year, called on leaders to “choose people and planet over pain” in 2026.
(IANS)
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