As military expenditure reaches new highs globally, questions are growing about how security priorities are set—and what the wider implications may be for development and human security. On 5 March 2026, as part of the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness (IDDNPA), the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) will launch its 2026 Regional Briefing Series with an online discussion of the United Nations Secretary-General’s report on military expenditure, “The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future,” bringing together regional voices and UN experts to reflect on the report’s key findings and what they mean for Asia and the Pacific.
Date & time: Thursday, 5 March 2026 | 10:15–12:00 Nepal time (UTC+5:45)
Register here (Zoom): http://bit.ly/4rzmZlW
Context
The Secretary-General’s report comes at a moment when many countries face difficult choices about how to balance security needs with long-term development priorities. The report examines how trends in military spending intersect with broader peace and development priorities, and encourages reflection on balanced, human-centered approaches to security.
For Asia and the Pacific, these global dynamics intersect with a complex regional landscape—shaped by diverse security concerns, climate and disaster vulnerability, fiscal constraints, and uneven development progress. This virtual briefing will offer an overview of the report’s key messages and feature regional perspectives on what the findings may mean for peace, security, and sustainable development.
Speakers
The briefing will feature expert contributions from:
- Mr. Deepayan Basu Ray, Director — United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD)
- Ms. Claudia Garcia Guiza, Political Affairs Officer — United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)
- Dr. Manpreet Sethi, Senior Research Adviser — Asia-Pacific Leadership Network (APLN)
- Mr. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Executive Director — ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR)
Additional speakers to be confirmed.
Programme highlights
The session will begin with a briefing on the report’s main findings, followed by rapid-fire reflections from invited speakers and a moderated exchange among panelists. The discussion will conclude with audience Q&A.
This first session is designed for a general audience, including Member States, UN partners, academia and think tanks, civil society and youth, and interested members of the public.
Read the report
Participants are encouraged to review the Secretary-General’s report on military expenditure ahead of the session: https://disarmament.unoda.org/en/milex-sdg-report/report-secretary-general-global-impact-increasing-military-expenditure-sdgs
Access the fact sheet here: https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/milex-docs/MILEX_UN_Fact_Sheet.pdf
For more information, contact unrcpd-info@un.org.
