India, March 23 -- The world today is again at an increasingly fragile and uncertain moment. From the prolonged war in Ukraine to escalating tensions in West Asia, geopolitical conflicts are once again shaping global priorities. Nations are rearming, nations are preparing for self-defence and defence budgets are soaring. Yet, amid this surge in military preparedness, a persistent crisis of hunger, food insecurity, and underinvestment in food production continues to deepen.

The numbers are alarming.

Global military expenditure reached a record $2.7 trillion in 2024, representing a 9.4% increase in a single year-the steepest rise since the Cold War era. Even more striking is the long-term trend: military spending has increased for ten con...