INTERNATIONAL — March 12, 2026
WHO Chief: Global Military Spending Reaches 2.7 Trillion Dollars a Year
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said global military spending hits 2.7 trillion dollars yearly, dwarfing the 93 billion dollars needed annually to end hunger by 2030. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the need for children's access to nutritious food.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Hasht-e Subh — 2 min read
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, stated that global military spending reaches 2.7 trillion dollars annually.
On Thursday, March 12, Tedros wrote on his X account that this figure is spent even as 93 billion dollars are needed each year to end hunger by 2030. He said: "Global military spending is several times the annual global need for food, showing that we spend more to kill each other than to ensure everyone has access to food and prevent hunger."
Tedros emphasized that every year nearly 30 times more is spent to kill each other than to ensure everyone has food.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the importance of children's access to food. He added that access to nutritious meals is a basic need that boosts children's learning opportunities and should not be overlooked.
These statements come amid concerns over a war involving the United States and Israel against Iran.
Read the original reporting at Hasht-e Subh →
Reliability assessment
Single source with direct, on-record attribution to named officials (WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus via his X post on March 12, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres) including concrete details like specific spending figures and dates.
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International — WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UN, Antonio Guterres, military spending
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