General Assembly, Military Spending & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (9 September 2025)

Highlights:
General Assembly
Military Spending
Qatar/Israel
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Ukraine
Security Council
Haiti
Republic of Congo
Afghanistan
Education
Briefing/Tomorrow
Financial Contribution

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY
This morning, the Secretary-General delivered remarks at the closing of the 79th session of the General Assembly.
He said that this session took place during numerous challenges ranging between conflicts, divisions, inequalities, poverty, injustices, displacement, hunger and another year of record-breaking heat. Yet, this Assembly, he said, worked to discuss, debate and develop common solutions to address all of that.
The Secretary-General thanked the outgoing President of the General Assembly, Philemon Yang, as he presided over the 79th session with wisdom, skill and vision.
But, as we close the GA, another one opens.
The Secretary-General is expected later this afternoon again in the GA Hall to deliver remarks at the opening of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. Mr. Guterres said he looks forward to collaborating with President-elect Annalena Baerbock.
This is an important year for all of us. It is the 80th anniversary of the UN and the visionary Charter which brought this Organization to life.

MILITARY SPENDING
Earlier this morning, the Secretary-General presented his report, “The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future”, along with High Representative for Disarmament Izumi Nakamitsu and the Acting Administrator of the UN Development Programme, Haoliang Xu.
The Secretary-General said that the report lays bare a stark reality: the world is spending far more on waging war than in building peace. In 2024, global military spending surged to a record $2.7 trillion – the equivalent of $334 for every person on Earth, he said.
Mr. Guterres said that the current trajectory is unsustainable, and a better path is within reach, but we need practical steps to rebalance. He warned that excessive military spending does not guarantee peace.
The report proposes a shift to an approach that prioritizes diplomacy, cooperation, sustainable development and disarmament over military build ups.

QATAR/ISRAEL
In remarks to the press this morning, the Secretary-General said he had just learned about the Israeli attacks in Qatar, a country that has been playing a very positive role to achieve a ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
He condemned this flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar. All parties must work towards achieving a permanent ceasefire, not destroying it, the Secretary-General said.