Guterres warns in 2026: The world is at a crossroads and military spending is disastrous

In what has been described as his most forceful and candid address, UN Secretary-General António Guterres confronted the international community with its historic responsibilities at the start of the new year, warning that the world stands at a critical "crossroads" in 2026. This came in his annual New Year's message, in which he called on world leaders to radically rearrange priorities to salvage what can be salvaged of the future of humanity and the planet.

Last chance message: chaos and uncertainty

Guterres began his video message with a stark assessment of the geopolitical reality, noting that chaos and uncertainty have become the dominant features of the global landscape. The Secretary-General emphasized that the world faces a toxic mix of deep political divisions, escalating violence, accelerating climate collapse, and systematic violations of international law that threaten the collective security system upon which the United Nations was founded.

“As we enter the new year, the world stands at a crossroads,” Guterres said in a firm tone. “I call on leaders everywhere to be serious and to choose people and the planet over suffering,” he stressed, emphasizing the need for immediate action to alleviate human suffering in light of the ongoing armed conflicts in Ukraine and other parts of the world.

Shocking figures: The militarization of the world at the expense of the poor

In reviewing the economic and ethical challenges, the Secretary-General revealed alarming statistics reflecting a structural flaw in the current global system. He explained that global military spending had jumped by a staggering 10% this year, reaching a record high of $2.7 trillion .

To make the picture clearer, Guterres drew a stark comparison to illustrate the scale of the tragedy, noting that this enormous sum is equivalent to:

• 13 times the total global spending allocated to development aid for developing countries.
• This is equivalent to the GDP of the entire continent of Africa.

These figures reflect a painful reality where resources are directed towards destruction rather than reconstruction, at a time when the poorest countries are suffering from crippling debt crises and a lack of funding needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

International context and the importance of the warning

Guterres' warnings take on particular significance this year for several strategic and historical reasons. First, this address comes in the final year of his term as UN Secretary-General, making his message a kind of "political testament" and a last-ditch effort to push for reform of the global order. Second, his talk of levels of warfare not seen since World War II points to the erosion of diplomatic deterrence mechanisms and the Security Council's failure to contain major conflicts.

Observers believe that linking military spending to climate collapse reflects the United Nations' view that true security is not achieved by stockpiling weapons, but by confronting shared existential threats such as global warming and extreme poverty. The continuation of this militaristic approach threatens to exacerbate the gap between the Global North and South, potentially leading to unprecedented waves of displacement and refugees, and social unrest that transcends borders.

A call for peace and investment in life

Guterres concluded his message with a stark call for course correction, saying: “In this new year, let us get our priorities right. A safer world begins with investing more in fighting poverty and less in waging war. Peace must prevail.” This call places the onus on the major powers and decision-makers to ensure that 2026 does not become another year of missed opportunities.