Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a striking message to world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, asserting that the post–Cold War, rules-based world order would not return. Carney said the era of predictable international norms was fading due to intensifying great power competition.
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He urged middle powers to act collectively during this transitional phase, warning, “If middle powers are not on the table, they will be on the menu.” He explained that while great powers can afford to act alone thanks to their market size, military strength, and leverage, middle powers lack the same capacity and must cooperate to protect their interests.
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— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) January 20, 2026
Carney’s remarks were widely interpreted as a critique of US President Donald Trump’s policies, highlighting how some great powers now employ economic integration or coercion to achieve strategic objectives. The comments come in the wake of Trump’s threats to take over Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, and his imposition of tariffs on eight European nations opposing such moves.
The speech drew strong reactions online, with social media users praising Carney’s candid assessment of global power dynamics. One commentator called it “a remarkable admission that the rules-based international order is largely a convenient fiction,” while another noted it offered “an open-eyed strategy for middle countries navigating a world dominated by hegemons.”
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Carney’s message underscored the need for collaboration among middle powers to counterbalance the unilateral actions of global superpowers. His call for unity comes as the world watches closely ahead of Trump’s scheduled arrival in Davos on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, and amid ongoing tensions in global trade and geopolitics.