The world's fault lines have grown into deep canyons, as global superpowers have demonstrated that their military, economic, and technological might are not enough to ensure security or solve the world's problems, said António Guterres, the outgoing United Nations secretary general, in his final address to the General Assembly. In a speech filled with both despair and cautious optimism, Guterres reflected on the past decade, which largely coincided with his 10-year tenure. He noted that wars have erupted with devastating consequences, lasting for years with cruel intensity. Civilians have been targeted, human rights have been violated, hunger has been used as a weapon, humanitarian workers have been killed, and international law has been ignored. He also pointed out that geopolitical divisions have grown, inequalities have worsened, and trust among nations has eroded. Meanwhile, the climate crisis has moved from a distant concern to a daily reality, and artificial intelligence has advanced so rapidly that even its creators have been caught off guard. Guterres did not name Israel but criticized the actions following the Hamas attack in October 2023, describing the subsequent events in Gaza as an unprecedented scale of killing and destruction. He also condemned energy companies for exploiting the planet, calling their practices "treating the world as an open sewer." He highlighted the absence of African representation on the UN Security Council as a glaring omission and called for a new global agreement to regulate artificial intelligence. Throughout his speech, Guterres emphasized the need for a multilateral system centered on a more representative United Nations to address the convergence of global challenges. However, he warned that the mechanisms for collective action are under increasing strain, and that the power of superpowers is not as absolute as they may believe. Guterres urged superpowers to recognize the limits of their influence, stating that military, economic, and technological power alone cannot ensure peace, stability, or security. He warned against the rise of a "great fracture," where the world is divided into two rival blocs with separate systems for economy, technology, and security. He pointed out that global governance is not keeping pace with the shifting balance of power among and within countries. At the same time, he noted the growing influence of private corporations and individuals, whose reach now extends into politics, economies, and information flows. He also highlighted the increasing delegation of power to machines, with AI systems acting unpredictably and lethal autonomous weapons becoming a reality. Guterres called on the world to choose between continued fragmentation or a shift toward a more cooperative, multilateral system centered on a representative UN. He stressed the importance of exercising power in accordance with international law and urged leaders to stop using civilians as collateral in conflicts across the Middle East. He also highlighted the ongoing violence in the West Bank and the threat to the two-state solution. In Ukraine, he condemned Russia’s invasion as a violation of international law and noted that parts of Russia itself have also suffered attacks that threaten global food and energy supplies. He concluded by celebrating the United Nations’ achievement of gender parity in leadership for the first time in history, saying that equality is not a dream but a decision that can be replicated in other areas of society.