UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls for global leaders to invest in poverty reduction over warfare amid record military spending and global chaos.
UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a stark New Year’s message urging world leaders to “get serious” and prioritise people and the planet.
He described a world at a crossroads, surrounded by chaos, division, violence, climate breakdown and systemic violations of international law.
Guterres called on leaders everywhere to choose people and planet over pain, criticising the global imbalance between military spending and development aid.
He noted military spending has risen nearly 10% this year to USD 2.7 trillion.
That figure is 13 times total global spending on development aid and equivalent to the entire gross domestic product of Africa.
Wars are raging at levels unseen since World War II, he added.
The UN chief said a safer world begins by investing more in fighting poverty and less in fighting wars.
“Peace must prevail,” said Guterres, who will be serving his final year as secretary-general.
