Global Spending Hits $2.9 Trillion

Global military expenditures reached $2.9 trillion in 2025, marking the eleventh consecutive year of growth. The figure represents a nearly 3 percent increase over the previous year. President Donald Trump has proposed a 42 percent increase in the forthcoming U.S. military budget, raising it to $1.5 trillion. That amount would equal about 63 percent of federal discretionary spending.

Lawrence S. Wittner, Professor of History Emeritus at SUNY/Albany, argues that relying solely on national military might has historically produced recurring wars. He notes that estimates for the death toll from wars throughout human history range as high as 1 billion people. Wittner points to the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has already led to the deaths or injuries of 1,581,840 Russian soldiers, as evidence of the human cost of modern conflict.

Wittner suggests that international institutions offer a more effective alternative to endless war. He traces the development of these bodies to the aftermath of two world wars, which led to the creation of the League of Nations and its successor, the United Nations. These organizations were intended to safeguard national security through international law rather than military dominance. However, Wittner notes that major powers have often resisted surrendering the advantages of military might, leading to the League's failure and persistent vetoes in the UN Security Council.

The United Nations, which is 81 years old, has faced criticism for allowing great powers to maintain privileged status. Wittner observes that these nations have used veto power to block collective action when it affected their interests. He contrasts the short history of international institutions with the roughly 300,000-year history of modern human beings, arguing that it is premature to abandon efforts to create an effective security system.

Reform campaigns are currently active. Numerous nations have called for changes to the United Nations. Modest measures include providing adequate funding and enhancing the role of the General Assembly. More substantial changes, such as abolishing the Security Council veto, require a UN Charter review conference. Article 109 of the UN Charter provides the framework for such a meeting. An Article 109 Coalition recently launched a campaign to prepare for this conference.

Wittner, the author of Confronting the Bomb, maintains that while militarism has failed to safeguard national security over thousands of years, international security might eventually succeed. He urges attention to strengthening world institutions as a response to the current predicament of rising military costs and ongoing conflicts.

The next step in the reform process involves the preparation for the Article 109 review conference. The coalition aims to use the existing charter provisions to organize the meeting. This effort seeks to address the structural issues that have limited the effectiveness of the United Nations since its establishment near the end of World War II.