António Guterres Urges World Leaders To Prioritise Development Over Military Spending; Issues Hindi Message For First Time

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on world leaders to prioritise development over military expenditure, warning that the global community is drifting away from the principles that bind humanity together.

In a significant outreach move, the UN issued its New Year message in Hindi for the first time, reflecting growing efforts to broaden linguistic inclusivity at the organisation.

Delivering a stark assessment of global challenges, Guterres said the world stood at a critical crossroads marked by division, violence, climate breakdown and repeated violations of international law.

He emphasised that public frustration was mounting as people questioned whether their leaders were prepared to listen and act decisively.

Calling for a realignment of global priorities, the UN chief highlighted the sharp imbalance between military spending and development assistance.

Global military expenditure has surged to an estimated $2.7 trillion, nearly 10 per cent higher than last year, and stands at 13 times the amount spent on development aid.

Guterres noted that this figure is equivalent to the entire GDP of Africa, underscoring the urgency of redirecting resources towards poverty alleviation and sustainable growth.

He urged leaders to choose people and planet over pain, stressing that investing in human development, rather than warfare, can achieve lasting peace.

The release of the New Year message in Hindi aligns with India’s sustained push to promote the language within the UN system.

For the first time, the UN shared the Secretary-General’s message as a Hindi text, while the official video address also featured Hindi subtitles.

India has supported the initiative under the ‘Hindi@UN Project’ and has so far contributed $6.8 million.

In February this year, India signed a fresh memorandum of understanding, committing to provide $1.5 million annually for the next five years to expand the use of Hindi at the UN.

Appeal for Responsible Global Leadership

As Guterres prepares to conclude his tenure next year, his message carried a strong appeal for responsible global leadership in 2026 and beyond.

He warned that continued neglect of development priorities would deepen instability and erode trust in international institutions.

In the New Year message issued 1st time also in Hindi, the UN chief calls for prioritising development over military.

“On this new year, let’s resolve to get our priorities straight,” he said. “A safer world begins by investing more in fighting poverty and less in fighting wars.”

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