United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the world is engulfed by “chaos and uncertainty” and urged global leaders to prioritise development aid over rising military expenditure, as he delivered his New Year message amid escalating global conflicts and crises.
In a notable first, the Secretary-General’s New Year message was also issued in Hindi, reflecting India’s ongoing efforts to promote the use of the language at the United Nations. Alongside the English version, a Hindi text was released, and the official video message included Hindi subtitles.
Calling for a reassessment of global priorities, Guterres urged leaders to focus on addressing poverty, inequality and climate challenges rather than increasing investments in warfare. “On this new year, let’s resolve to get our priorities straight,” he said, stressing that global security depends on investing in people rather than conflict.
Guterres said the world was witnessing a retreat from the fundamental principles that unite humanity, with populations across countries demanding decisive action from their leaders. He described a global environment marked by division, violence, climate breakdown and widespread violations of international law.
“As we enter the new year, the world stands at a crossroads,” he said, warning that uncertainty and instability have become defining features of the current global order. He also questioned whether political leaders were responding adequately to public demands for peace and accountability.
Highlighting the imbalance in global spending, Guterres said military expenditure has reached unprecedented levels. According to him, global military spending has risen to $2.7 trillion, registering an increase of nearly 10 per cent. He pointed out that this figure is 13 times higher than total global development aid and roughly equivalent to the entire gross domestic product of Africa.
The Secretary-General argued that such spending patterns undermine efforts to tackle poverty, inequality and climate change, and called for a fundamental shift in priorities. “A safer world begins by investing more in fighting poverty and less in fighting wars,” he said, underscoring the link between sustainable development and lasting peace.
Reiterating his appeal for global cooperation, Guterres stressed the need to place people and the planet at the centre of policymaking. Looking ahead to the coming years, he urged world leaders to make choices that reduce suffering rather than deepen it. “Peace must prevail,” he said.
Guterres, who is set to complete his tenure as Secretary-General next year, said the decisions taken now will shape the global trajectory in the years ahead. In a message directed at world leaders, he called for seriousness of purpose and renewed commitment to multilateralism.
The release of the Hindi version of the New Year message comes as part of India’s broader initiative to increase the use of Hindi at the United Nations. India has been supporting the “Hindi@UN Project” by covering related expenses, amounting to $6.8 million so far.
In February this year, India renewed the initiative by signing a memorandum of understanding for another five years. Under the agreement, signed by India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, and Under-Secretary-General Melissa Fleming, India has pledged $1.5 million annually to support the project.
