In brief
During a press briefing, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the adverse effects of increasing military spending, which is projected to reach $6.6 trillion by 2035. Citing a UN report on the consequences of such spending, Guterres urged nations to rethink their budget priorities in favor of vital services like healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation. He emphasized that redirecting even a small portion of military funds could significantly impact global development goals and contribute to a more peaceful world.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The escalating global military expenditures, which have surged to a record $2.7 trillion, are diverting crucial investments away from essential areas such as health and education, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Tuesday, asserting that these expenditures do not guarantee peace.
Guterres emphasized that significant military spending often fuels an arms race, deepens mistrust, and diverts resources from measures that are fundamental to stability. A UN report, entitled 'The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future,' assessed the implications of current military expenditures on the UN's development goals for 2030.
As military budgets continue to rise, surpassing previous records, Guterres's report will be presented at the upcoming General Assembly meeting starting on September 22. Among the 17 goals set by world leaders in 2015 are the elimination of global hunger and the provision of quality education for every child, with an alarming note that currently, only 35% of these goals are on track as per the 2025 review.
In his statement, Guterres called for an urgent reassessment of global spending priorities, stating, 'A more secure world begins by investing at least as much in fighting poverty as we do in fighting wars.'
The report highlights a projection from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, indicating that military spending may rise to $6.6 trillion by 2035 if current trends continue. This increase in military expenditures is not limited to a few countries but has seen over 100 nations augmenting their military budgets last year alone.
Guterres stressed that even redistributing a small fraction of military spending could address significant gaps, such as improving education, primary healthcare, and infrastructure. The report pointed out that $93 million—less than 4% of last year's military expenditure—could potentially eradicate hunger by 2030, and a $5 trillion investment would fund 12 years of quality education for every child in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
Moreover, the economic impact of reallocating military spending is substantial; for instance, $1 billion in military spending translates to 11,200 military jobs, whereas the same amount could generate approximately 26,700 jobs in education, 16,800 in clean energy, and 17,200 in healthcare.
UN disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu remarked that shifting global priorities is imperative for humanity's survival, while Haoliang Xu, the U.N. Development Program acting administrator, noted that fostering development is key to sustaining international peace and security. He asserted, 'When people live healthy, educated lives, their societies tend to be more peaceful.'
Nakamitsu addressed the challenge of persuading nations to decrease military spending for greater investment in social welfare, mentioning that achieving this requires starting a significant dialogue among the UN's 193 member states.
In conclusion, Guterres and the UN leadership are advocating for a shift toward investing in humanity and development, stressing that this is essential for building a more stable and prosperous future.
