US Edition‘Best speech by a world leader ... in a very long time’: Carney’s Davos address draws global attention
Mark Carney called on middle powers to unite for strategic autonomy and build partnerships with China, Qatar, and UAE amid global geopolitical uncertainty, urging a tougher negotiating stance.
- On January 20, 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered an attention-getting address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, declaring the end of the international rules-based order and drawing praise as one of the best speeches heard this week.
- Amid renewed great-power rivalry, Carney urged middle powers to build a new order based on human rights and sustainable development, recommending strategic autonomy even at a cost and new ties with China, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
- Carney underlined the point with the line `When we only negotiate bilaterally with a hegemon, we negotiate from weakness`, and said Canada will `calibrate` ties to reflect values, excluding `the delusions of MAGA‑land` such as Arctic military exercises.
- International leaders responded that while Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, praised Carney's speech, Alexander Stubb, President of Finland, cautioned that `a good speech is not foreign policy`, and Goldy Hyder urged Carney to `do no harm` before the United States‑Mexico‑Canada trade review this year.
- Carney's stance could complicate Canada's traditional sidekick role to the United States, as moving to values-based realism will require a difficult economic and political transition.
48 Articles
48 Articles
The words of the Canadian Prime Minister at the World Economic Forum in Davos, considered historic in his country, echoed the exasperation of some of his compatriots against the United States. His calls for the creation of an alliance of middle powers still have to be realized.
The Canadian Prime Minister has given the strongest speech so far in Davos. He calls it the hypocrisy of the West and outlines how medium-sized powers can assert themselves even without the protective power of the USA. What is so remarkable about his words.
Trump showed that the speech of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had bothered him. But politicians, intellectuals and journalists from all over the world have applauded the Canadian leader.
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