The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has urged world leaders to “get serious” and prioritise people and the planet over pain and war as the world enters 2026.
In his New Year message issued on Monday, December 29, 2025, in Washington, D.C., Mr Guterres said the world stands at a critical crossroads, facing chaos and uncertainty fuelled by deep divisions, violence, climate breakdown and persistent violations of international law.
He described the situation as “a retreat from the very principles that bind us together as one human family.”
According to him, people across the globe are increasingly questioning whether their leaders are listening and prepared to take decisive action. As the new year begins, he said global trends paint a troubling picture.
Mr Guterres revealed that global military spending has surged to 2.7 trillion dollars, an increase of nearly 10 percent. He noted that this amount is thirteen times higher than total global development aid and equivalent to the entire Gross Domestic Product of Africa, even as conflicts reach levels not seen since the Second World War.
The UN Secretary-General therefore called on world leaders to rethink their priorities in 2026, stressing that lasting security can only be achieved by investing more in ending poverty and less in waging wars.
“Peace must prevail,” he said, adding that the world already possesses the resources needed to uplift lives, protect the planet and build a future rooted in peace and justice.
He urged both leaders and citizens to act with courage, emphasising that collective action remains key to shaping a better future.
“Our future depends on our collective courage to act,” Mr Guterres said. “This new year, let us rise together for justice, for humanity, and for peace.”
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