By R Anil Kumar
New York. 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 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.
