UN chief says power has polarized the world and urges leaders to cooperate

UNITED NATIONS — In his final remarks as U.N. Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres called upon world leaders to address the pressing issue of whether the planet will continue to split apart or unite in the face of existential threats. He emphasized that the root cause of these crises is power, which has undergone a "irreversible" shift toward a multipolar world.

The concentration of power is not only in the hands of governments, but also in the control of a select few private corporations and individuals, as well as the rise of artificial intelligence. Guterres cautioned against the formation of rival blocs with distinct economic, technological, and security systems, referring to this as the "great fracture."

He criticized the idea that power alone can ensure peace, asserting that military might is insufficient. Guterres urged superpowers to acknowledge that their power is not as potent as they believe, emphasizing that peace requires cooperation and collaboration among nations rather than an exclusive focus on military strength.