Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a forceful address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, declaring that the “old order is not coming back” and calling for middle power nations to collectively resist economic coercion by global superpowers.
In his Tuesday speech, Carney warned that “middle powers must act together because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu,” directly criticizing what he characterized as powerful nations weaponizing economic integration and using tariffs as leverage. While not mentioning Donald Trump by name, several remarks appeared directed at the U.S. president’s recent threats to impose tariffs on allies unless Greenland was surrendered to American control.
The prime minister explicitly affirmed Canada’s support for Greenland, Denmark, and the NATO alliance, drawing applause from attendees. He emphasized Canada’s “unwavering” commitment to Article Five, the NATO clause stating that an attack on one member constitutes an attack on all.
Carney described the current global situation as “a rupture, not a transition,” noting that great powers—typically defined as permanent UN Security Council members China, France, Russia, the UK, and US—are increasingly using “financial infrastructure as coercion” and exploiting supply chain vulnerabilities.
The speech came amid reports that Canada is considering sending troops to Greenland for joint military exercises with Danish and European forces. When questioned about potential deployments, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand stated that participation in NATO exercises is routine, with decisions made by defense officials.
Carney outlined Canada’s strategy of building “different coalitions for different issues based on common values and interests,” positioning the country as a “stable and reliable” partner. He highlighted recent trade agreements with China and Qatar, plus a defense procurement pact with the EU, as evidence of Canada’s adaptive approach to shifting geopolitics.
The prime minister’s appearance preceded Trump’s scheduled Wednesday address at the same forum, setting the stage for contrasting visions of international relations.