UN chief urges G20 to reaffirm peace as foundation for development

HAMILTON, Canada

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called on G20 nations to prioritize peace, solidarity, and financial justice, warning that global instability is being fueled by unsustainable debt and soaring military expenditures.

Speaking at the second G20 foreign ministers meeting on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly, Guterres cautioned that "unsustainable debt is trapping nations and mortgaging their future."

He said "global military spending soared to 2.7 trillion US dollars last year, nearly 13 times all official development aid," while "the UN's regular budget, 750 times smaller, is a rounding error."

"Together, your countries represent two-thirds of humanity and over four-fifths of the world economy," he said, stressing that the G20's "choices send signals to markets, institutions, and governments everywhere."

Highlighting the pivotal moment, Guterres outlined four immediate priorities: rebuilding trust in international cooperation, investing in prevention and peacemaking, confronting the climate crisis, and ensuring that finance delivers for peace and prosperity.

"Diplomacy, mediation, and inclusive governance remain our strongest tools, but they require resources and political will," he said, urging support for mediators, local peacebuilders, and inclusive processes to address root causes of conflict.

On climate change, Guterres emphasized that "integrating climate risk into peace and development strategies prevents shocks from becoming breakdowns," pointing to the importance of regional cooperation on water, food, and early warning systems.

"Peace is not a dividend of development. It is its foundation and highest-return investment," he said.