This year’s World Economic Forum was a political battleground, given the current international situation.
With current tensions around transatlantic and NATO cooperation, liberal leaders warned that the rules-based order may be slipping away. Previous alliances can no longer be taken for granted.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney took centre stage, delivering one of the forum’s most striking speeches:
“Great powers have begun using economic integration as weapons, tariffs as leverage, financial infrastructure as coercion, supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited. Middle powers must act together because if you are not at the table, you are on the menu.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised Europe’s hesitation and saying it risks becoming more of a historical concept than a real political force.
Davos served as a wake-up call for Europe and other middle powers. Standing by is no longer an option.
Read liberal reactions below: