UN: Global Military Spending at $2.7 Trillion Highlights Urgent Call for Peace-Focused Investments
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: NITI Aayog | Ministry of Defence | Ministry of External Affairs
The United Nationsβ 2025 report "The Security We Need", issued in response to Member Statesβ request under the Pact for the Future, underscores that in 2024, global military expenditure reached a record $2.7 trillion - marking the tenth straight year of increase - and forecasts this could climb to $6.6 trillion annually by 2035. Meanwhile, Official Development Assistance (ODA) dropped in real terms by 7.1%.
The report highlights a persistent $4 trillion annual financing gap in sustainable development, capital that could be redirected from military budgets toward achieving SDGs. It warns that surging defense expenditures come at a steep development cost, impairing progress in health, education, poverty alleviation, inequality reduction, innovation, and environmental sustainability.
The report calls for a fundamental policy reversal from arms races to a global βrace to sustainable peaceβ, emphasizing diplomacy, transparency in military spending, disarmament-linked development, and integrated security governance.
Relevant Question:
How can countries like India ensure that rising defense budgets do not undermine investment in human development, while strengthening transparency, disarmament-policy linkages, and SDG funding?
Follow the full news here: https://front.un-arm.org/Milex-SDG-Study/SG_Report_TheSecurityWeNeed.pdf