The Global Military Spending Crisis
In 2024, the world spent an unprecedented 2.718 trillion USD on military budgets—equivalent to the entire budgets of South Africa, Canada, Brazil, and India combined. This massive expenditure represents the highest military spending ever recorded, a 9.4% increase from 2023, surpassing even Cold War levels. Meanwhile, multiple, simultaneous global crises persist: hunger continues to claim millions of lives, the climate crisis intensifies, and human security remains fragile. The world also grapples with escalating refugee crises, the rise of authoritarianism, and deepening global inequalities, all of which threaten the stability and well-being of societies worldwide.
Our Call: A 10% Global Reduction in Military Spending
We propose a simple yet transformative approach: a coordinated, global 10% reduction in military expenditures. This is about redefining national security, rather than weakening it. If every country reduces its military budget by 10%, no nation loses its relative defensive capabilities, but we collectively interrupt the endless and destructive arms race. A 10% cut would free up 271 billion USD annually — enough to end world hunger, cover half the required climate financing in the Global South, and invest in healthcare, education, infrastructure, and social welfare according to local needs.
Communities around the world are struggling for this in their own contexts, regionally and globally. Our campaign can be a tool to amplify these struggles. We advocate for a strategic approach building on regional and multilateral treaties on the way to a global treaty. Drawing inspiration from successful models like the Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaties—which include agreements across Latin America, the Caribbean, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central Asia—we call for: Regional cooperative agreements; Bilateral treaties between neighbouring countries and multilateral negotiations within existing international frameworks. These interim steps can create momentum, build trust, and demonstrate the feasibility of military spending reductions.
We call not only for the divestment from military spending, but also investment in our futures locally and globally. We call for each country to invest half of the military spendings saved into local social priorities, and half into global social priorities.
Repairing Historical Harm
The world’s wealthiest nations bear a disproportionate responsibility for global military spending. In 2024, NATO members accounted for 55% of worldwide military expenditures, with the United States contributing 37% of global military expenditure. With shifting politics in the US, military spending continues to rise globally, yet other funds such as humanitarian and development aid, and climate financing are being cut back dramatically by many global north countries, furthering global inequality.
A fair and equitable approach to security and resource allocation requires acknowledging these differing shares of responsibility and taking concrete steps to redress the harm caused by excessive military spending, particularly in the most vulnerable countries and communities. Our call for allocating a percentage of each country’s spending to global priorities, seeks to address the inherent inequality between nations that contribute heavily to global militarism and those that contribute far less.
Reimagining Security – A Divestment from harm for an investment in care
The current dominant militarized security model has failed. In 2024, nine million people died from hunger, while over 233,000 died in armed conflicts. Dominant perspectives about security fail to address this insecurity caused by lacking access to land, food, healthcare, shelter and employment. This type of insecurity is causing far more deaths and suffering than wars, whilst simultaneously exacerbating militarisation and conflict. More weapons do not create more safety. True security means diplomatic solutions, nonviolent conflict prevention and transformation, climate action, equitable land and territory rights, and investing in human wellbeing.
A Global Movement, A Shared Vision
The ‘10% for All’ campaign is more than a policy proposal—it’s a vision for renegotiating our collective futures. By working together across borders, exploring collaborative approaches, and building trust, we can create a world that prioritizes human life, environmental sustainability, and genuine security.
Join our international network and call.
Together we can organize local and regional campaigns, highlighting the connections in our struggles, to pressure decision-makers, research regional cooperation opportunities, highlight the impact of military spending and raise public awareness about alternative security approaches. Join us in bringing us all one step closer to a peaceful world.
Launch of the 10 Percent for All Campaign
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Check 10% for All Campaign official website here: https://10percentforall.org/10-for-all-a-global-campaign-to-cut-military-spending-reframe-security-and-invest-in-humanity/