January 21, 2026 — Dalena Reporters
Davos, Switzerland — A fierce diplomatic exchange unfolded Wednesday at the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos as U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered contrasting visions of the global order with Trump defending U.S. primacy and Carney warning of a fracturing international system in the face of rising geopolitical tensions.
In his speech on January 21, Trump took aim at allies, including Canada, emphasizing American strength and reasserting controversial positions on global strategic priorities such as Greenland and economic relations. Trump specifically rebuked Carney’s remarks from a day earlier, asserting that Canada should express gratitude for its long-standing relationship with the United States and arguing that Ottawa “lives because of the United States.” (“Canada gets a lot of freebies from us… Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” Trump said in Davos, according to reporting from international news agencies covering the forum).
Trump’s address ranged broadly over U.S. foreign policy aims, including his longstanding push to assert American influence in the Arctic and his claim that Greenland should be part of the United States a stance that has drawn sharp criticism from European partners and deepened transatlantic strains. The president’s remarks also touched on other diplomatic flashpoints such as Venezuela and leadership dynamics at the Federal Reserve, reflecting his wide-ranging agenda at the global summit.
The Canadian prime minister’s speech, delivered Tuesday, struck a markedly different tone. Carney widely praised by global media and delegates warned that the post-World War II, U.S.-led rules-based international order is undergoing a “rupture,” not a simple transition, due to unilateral power politics, economic coercion and weakening multilateral institutions such as the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. He urged “middle powers” countries that are neither superpowers nor minor states to band together to build a new, values-driven framework for cooperation. “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” Carney told the Davos audience, capturing the urgency of his call.
Carney’s address received a standing ovation from the assembled audience of political, business and civil society leaders a rare show of support at the annual forum. Analysts interpreted his remarks as an implicit critique of Trump’s assertive foreign policy, especially his threats of tariffs and coercive tactics toward U.S. allies who resist his Greenland initiative. Carney argued that middle powers must pursue strategic autonomy and forge deeper alliances beyond traditional frameworks to safeguard sovereignty and shared prosperity.
The contrasting speeches reflect deeper tensions that have emerged over recent months in global diplomacy. Trump’s actions including threats to impose tariffs on European nations opposed to his Greenland policy have alarmed long-standing allies and prompted calls for Europe and like-minded states to strengthen cooperation independent of U.S. pressure. Carney’s speech underscored the belief among some leaders that the established world order anchored by U.S. leadership is no longer sufficient to manage the complex challenges of the 21st century, including geopolitical competition, economic coercion and institutional erosion.
European leaders at the forum including French President Emmanuel Macron echoed concerns similar to Carney’s, warning against unilateralism and emphasizing the need for collective responses to global issues. These developments suggest a potential recalibration of alliances and strategic priorities, with middle powers seeking to assert greater influence in shaping future global governance.
As Davos draws to a close, the standoff between Trump’s expansive vision of U.S. leadership and Carney’s call for a new coalition of middle powers highlights a pivotal moment in international politics one in which the future of global cooperation and the architecture of world order are being vigorously contested on the world stage.