Bangladesh, Sept. 8 -- As the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) opens on September 9, the worlds attention will inevitably return to the sprawling headquarters in New York City, where leaders, diplomats, and journalists gather in the annual ritual of speeches, summits, and behind-the-scenes negotiations. But beneath the diplomatic pageantry lies a sobering reality: the UN is facing perhaps the deepest crisis in its history.

Born in 1945 out of the ashes of World War II, the UN was created to prevent future global wars, foster cooperation, and uphold international law. Eight decades later, the organization looks anything but united. International law is increasingly ignored, multilateralism is eroded, and geopolit...