Published on: 2026-04-27
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Global military spending continues to grow, undermining efforts to ensure sustainable development and long-term security. This was stated by the UN High Representative for Disarmament Issues, Izumi Nakamitsu, in an address on the occasion of the Global Days of Action on Military Spending.
According to data published today by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, in 2025 global military expenditures reached 2.887 trillion dollars – this is 2.9 percent more than the previous year.
Record spending on weapons
The graph has been observed for eleven consecutive years.
For comparison, the volume of foreign aid to development amounted to 174.3 billion dollars – 23 percent less than in 2024. Thus, military expenses exceeded foreign aid by more than 16 times.
The UN’s own budget for 2025 amounted to $3.72 billion – 776 times less than global military spending.
“These trends should make us think,” Nakamicu emphasized.
There are less than four years left until the deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, but only one fifth of the tasks are being implemented as planned. Meanwhile, the annual global financing gap for sustainable development has reached 4 trillion dollars.
“This is not just a resource redistribution. This is a redistribution of correct priorities,” said the head of the UN Disarmament Office.
The arms race intensifies instability
She reminded that the growth of military forces does not lead to strengthening peace and stability, but, on the contrary, can undermine the foundations of long-term security.
According to Nakamitsu, the arms race only intensifies escalation, deepens distrust, and increases the risk of mistakes. A closed loop is formed: the feeling of danger justifies militarization, and militarization, in turn, generates new instability.
The cost of missed opportunities
At the same time, the key global threats — climate change, inequality, food insecurity — remain unfunded.
Every dollar spent on weapons is a resource not invested in preventing hunger, improving education, or increasing resilience to climate change, Nakamitzu noted.
“This is a dollar that could have been directed towards diplomacy, conflict prevention, and strengthening human security,” she said.
What kind of security do we need?
“The question is not whether states have the right to invest in defense – they undoubtedly do. Nor is it whether real threats exist – they do,” emphasized the UN representative. “The question is what kind of security we provide and at what cost.”
True security, according to her, is determined not by the amount of armaments, but by the well-being of people and the condition of the planet.
Nakamitsu called for a rethink of security in the 21st century and reminded of the specific steps proposed by the Secretary-General: prioritizing diplomacy, strengthening trust, transparency of military budgets, and redirecting part of the funds towards sustainable development.
In conclusion, she addressed governments, civil society, and citizens of the whole world: “Humanity does not need more weapons. It needs more trust, more cooperation, and more solidarity. And above all, it needs peace.”
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