Global military spending has never been higher, while investments in peacebuilding and conflict prevention have never been lower. In 2025, military expenditure reached a record high of USD 2.887 trillion (SIPRI, 2025), while global donor investment in peacebuilding and conflict prevention fell by 12% between 2018 and 2023 (GPPI, 2025). This trend has worsened further since the Trump administration took office in January 2025 and significantly reduced public funding for international assistance.
While the global security situation is deeply concerning, prioritizing military responses does not guarantee long-term security or sustainable peace. On the contrary, rising military expenditure fuels the militarization of societies, thereby contributing to violence and insecurity. It also comes at the expense of essential social investments and the foundations of sustainable peace, such as healthcare, education, and international cooperation. The devastating environmental impact of military industries, which exacerbates climate crises and, in turn, fuels conflict, must also be taken into account. In the long run, unchecked rearmament causes lasting harm, particularly when it is not accompanied by equivalent investments in conflict prevention.
This increase in military spending has direct consequences for the work of the women and feminists committed to peace whom PeaceWomen Across the Globe (PWAG) supports. As conflicts intensify, humanitarian, psychosocial, and protection needs grow, and civic space continues to shrink, women are often the first to bear the consequences—but also the first to respond. Yet they continue to be deliberately excluded from the discussions that shape the future of their countries. To counter this trend, our “weapon” remains feminist peacebuilding. This means creating and supporting networks and political alliances that strengthen the visibility of the work carried out by women and feminists engaged in peacebuilding. It also means continuing to advocate with donors, governments, and influential decision-makers whenever we have access to them, so that women are not sidelined in peace processes. Finally, to “arm ourselves” through a feminist lens means opening spaces—even in times of war—where peace can be discussed.
Armed conflicts are not inevitable. Peace is not static. Both are the result of human and political choices. Leaders therefore have a choice: to build a peaceful world and invest in non-violent peacebuilding, or to contribute to the perpetuation of violence. One reminder is essential: increasing the number of weapons does not make the world safer. Peace, by contrast, requires open civic space, political will, and transformative investment.