Former World Leaders Urge Global Coalition to Combat Inequality

In a stark warning about the escalating crisis of global inequality, a group of 40 former world leaders has issued a call to current heads of state to collaborate on ending poverty and addressing the alarming potential of the emergence of trillionaires. The letter, organized by the Club de Madrid—a prominent forum of former democratic heads of state—was made public on June 26, 2025, and urges immediate action from global leaders to form a new economic coalition aimed at combating extreme inequality.

The signatories of the letter include notable figures such as Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand; and Nobel Peace Prize winners José Ramos-Horta and Óscar Arias, former President of Costa Rica. They argue that the world is at a critical juncture, with nearly half of humanity living in poverty while wealth concentrations are projected to reach unprecedented levels. According to a report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), there is a risk that the first trillionaires could emerge within the next decade, exacerbating existing socio-economic disparities (International Monetary Fund, 2025).

The letter highlights that 3.3 billion people are living in countries where sovereign debt payments exceed spending on essential services like education and health (World Bank, 2025). This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for comprehensive debt relief and international tax cooperation, as advocated by the authors. They criticize the current economic model as "outdated" and call for reforms in global financial institutions such as the IMF to adapt to contemporary challenges.

The signatories point to the growing threats posed by climate change and geopolitical tensions, stating that "volatility orders our world today" and that the traditional multilateral approaches to global governance are failing. Fiona Hill, a policy analyst and expert on international relations, has noted that the current geopolitical landscape resembles a prelude to a third world war, underscoring the precariousness of the global order (Hill, 2025).

The letter's authors contend that the need for international cooperation is more pressing than ever, particularly in light of recent trends toward unilateralism exemplified by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from key international agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord (The Guardian, 2025). They argue that countries acting alone are more vulnerable to global crises and emphasize the necessity of a collective approach to tackle issues that transcend national boundaries.

Despite the grim outlook, the former leaders express cautious optimism, asserting that a "powerful shift is possible" if nations prioritize values of solidarity and sovereignty. They propose that the financing for development is available, with trillions of dollars existing in potential public investment. However, they contend that much of this funding is currently diverted to private entities, thereby limiting its impact on global development efforts (Oxfam, 2025).

The letter identifies several critical upcoming international opportunities for advancing their agenda, including the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain, the G20 Summit in South Africa, and the COP30 climate conference in Brazil. The signatories urge global leaders to seize these moments to formulate actionable strategies that prioritize poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability.

In conclusion, as the world grapples with rising inequality and environmental degradation, the call from these former leaders serves as a critical reminder of the need for a unified global response. The implications of their message extend beyond immediate economic concerns, highlighting the necessity for collaborative frameworks that can effectively address the multifaceted challenges of the 21st century. The potential emergence of trillionaires juxtaposed with widespread poverty illustrates a profound moral crisis that demands urgent attention from the global community.