分类： politics

DAVOS, Switzerland – President Donald Trump’s appearance at the World Economic Forum has underscored a fundamental realignment of international relationships driven by his ‘America First’ doctrine. The inauguration of his Board of Peace initiative, focused initially on Gaza reconstruction, drew participation from fewer than 20 nations, with conspicuous absences from traditional allies including France, the United Kingdom, and Israel.

The diplomatic developments occurred alongside Trump’s announcement of a framework agreement with NATO concerning Greenland, further illustrating how domestic political priorities are recalibrating longstanding transatlantic partnerships. This strategic pivot has created unexpected opportunities for expanded international cooperation, particularly with China.

Policy experts from prominent think tanks have analyzed the profound implications of these shifts. Matthew Kroenig of the Atlantic Council warned that Trump’s confrontational approach has ‘destroyed much of the domestic political space in Europe’ for those advocating accommodation with the United States, potentially causing enduring damage to transatlantic relations.

Chatham House analysts examining the Greenland situation emphasized that European nations must accelerate ‘strategic autonomy to stop a hemorrhage of sovereignty,’ suggesting the Anti-Coercion Instrument could emerge as a significant tool in this new geopolitical landscape.

Forum participants noted China’s increasingly central role amid these transformations. Kimberley Botwright of the WEF highlighted China’s ‘systemic relevance’ in global value chains and clean technology sectors, observing that Chinese perspectives on shared priorities are receiving substantial international attention.

Academic Tom Harper from the University of East London characterized China as a ‘stabilizing force’ during this period of American institutional withdrawal, advocating for strengthened European-Chinese relations. WEF Managing Director Gim Huay Neo pointed to China’s 5% economic growth and its 15th Five-Year Plan as generators of ‘new opportunities for global businesses and cooperation.’

Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng reiterated China’s commitment to World Trade Organization reforms that enhance inclusivity for Global South nations, while cautioning against ‘rising unilateralism and protectionism’ in international affairs.

A comprehensive national survey has uncovered significant bipartisan support among American citizens for enhanced cooperation between the United States and China, alongside growing apprehension that escalating geopolitical tensions are adversely affecting Chinese American communities.

The groundbreaking research, jointly conducted by the Committee of 100 and the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center (NORC), represents one of the most extensive independent social studies in the United States. According to Alex Chew, NORC AmeriSpeak director and head of Amplify AAPI, this third iteration of the State of Chinese Americans research provides unprecedented breadth in understanding public perception regarding issues impacting the Chinese American population.

The data reveals that 59% of Americans advocate for closer governmental collaboration between Washington and Beijing on diplomatic matters and mutually relevant policies. This position transcends political divisions, with 65% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans expressing support for strengthened bilateral cooperation.

The cooperative sentiment extends into scientific and technological domains, where only 23% of respondents supported prohibiting Chinese researchers from working at U.S. institutions. This perspective demonstrated notable partisan variation, with 16% of Democrats and 34% of Republicans endorsing such restrictions.

Sam Collitt, research lead at Committee 100 and co-author of the survey report, emphasized that these findings indicate minimal public support for policies that would strain international relations. The research was conducted amid numerous federal and state initiatives seeking to prosecute, restrict, or ban Chinese researchers from collaborating with American institutions.

The survey aligns with recent studies by Pew Research and the Chicago Council suggesting that negative attitudes toward China among the American public may have reached their zenith. However, researchers caution that it remains uncertain whether this represents a temporary fluctuation or the beginning of a sustained trend toward improved perceptions.

Historical context provided by University of Maryland Professor Madeline Hsu suggests that Americans often overlook China’s historical position as an elite civilization and economic powerhouse prior to 1800, before its decline under Western imperial exploitation. This historical amnesia, according to Hsu, complicates America’s ability to contextualize China’s reemergence as a global power as a restoration rather than an unprecedented development.

The human cost of bilateral tensions was highlighted through examples including the China Initiatives program, which resulted in numerous Chinese American scientists facing false espionage allegations. The tragic case of Northwestern University’s Dr. Jane Wu, who committed suicide after being abruptly accused of wrongdoing and stripped of her position, exemplifies the devastating personal consequences that can result from sweeping geopolitical measures.

At the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, the United States delegation led by President Donald Trump delivered a stark departure from traditional globalist consensus with an uncompromising ‘America First’ agenda. The record-sized US contingent focused programming around aggressive trade protectionism, artificial intelligence dominance, and sovereign expansion ambitions.

President Trump’s 70-minute special address defended tariff policies as essential tools for national growth, claiming a 77 percent reduction in monthly trade deficits while positioning the US as the planet’s primary economic engine. The administration’s trade representative, Jamieson Greer, framed tariffs as legitimate geopolitical instruments, explicitly repudiating twenty-five years of trade policy by declaring the US market would not remain “permanently available to everyone.”

The delegation’s confrontational stance extended to artificial intelligence, where officials promoted deregulation and infrastructure ownership. Trump announced an extraordinary offer to Silicon Valley: nuclear power plant approvals within three weeks to fuel AI development. Administration officials criticized the European Union’s AI Act as “an absolute disaster” while advocating a “light-touch” regulatory approach.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick explicitly declared that “globalization has failed the West and the United States of America” in both panel discussions and a Financial Times op-ed. The administration’s position emphasized economic security and sovereign control, particularly regarding Trump’s renewed pursuit of Greenland acquisition for its strategic resources and shipping lanes.

The delegation’s statements generated significant geopolitical concern, with experts warning that the administration’s denial strategy risks further fragmenting the international system and eroding consensus on global rules and norms. The proceedings highlighted a fundamental shift in how the United States engages with multilateral institutions and international partners.

In a controversial move that has drawn mixed international reactions, former U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his proposed ‘Board of Peace’ during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The initiative, initially focused on cementing the Gaza ceasefire, has raised concerns among traditional Western allies about its potential to undermine the United Nations’ role in global diplomacy.

Trump announced he would chair the board himself and revealed that approximately 35 world leaders had committed to joining out of 50 invitations extended. However, the project faces significant skepticism from key U.S. allies who question both its structure and funding requirements. Permanent members are expected to contribute $1 billion each, a condition that has prompted several nations to decline participation.

European powers including France, Norway, and Slovenia have expressed reservations about the board’s broad mandate. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated: ‘Yes to implementing the peace plan presented by the president of the United States, which we wholeheartedly support, but no to creating an organization as it has been presented, which would replace the United Nations.’

Despite Western hesitation, several Middle Eastern nations have embraced the initiative. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement announcing their participation. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also agreed to join, marking a shift from his previous criticism of similar committees.

In a surprising development, Trump claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to participate, though Kremlin officials stated they were still studying the invitation. Putin suggested Russia might fund its contribution using frozen Russian assets and announced planned meetings with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to discuss Ukrainian settlement.

The board’s launch comes amid ongoing tensions in Gaza, where destruction remains visible along the Israel-Gaza border. Trump expressed optimism about the initiative’s prospects, stating that ‘everybody wants to be on’ the board, though he acknowledged some nations would require parliamentary approval to join.

A significant diplomatic confrontation between the United States and European allies over Greenland has been substantially de-escalated following high-level discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he had established a “framework” for a future agreement concerning Greenland and the broader Arctic region through negotiations with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

The breakthrough prompted the immediate withdrawal of threatened tariffs against eight European nations—the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland. These punitive measures, scheduled to commence on February 1st, had been proposed in response to European opposition to American ambitions regarding the Danish territory.

President Trump characterized the developing arrangement as “the ultimate long-term deal” that would provide the United States with substantial strategic advantages, particularly in security and mineral access. He emphasized that the agreement contained “no time limit” and would theoretically endure indefinitely, though specific details remained undisclosed.

However, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen promptly clarified that NATO possesses no authority to negotiate on Denmark’s behalf regarding Greenlandic sovereignty. “The position of Denmark and that of Greenland are the same, and no negotiations were held yesterday with NATO about our sovereignty,” she stated unequivocally in a television appearance.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, the United States and Denmark will renegotiate their 1951 defense pact concerning Greenland, potentially allowing for enhanced American military presence while preserving Danish sovereignty. The agreement may grant Washington rights to mineral resources and involvement in maintaining the Golden Dome missile defense system.

The European Parliament responded to the developments by suspending work on two legislative proposals related to EU-US trade relations, citing concerns over American “threats to territorial integrity and sovereignty.” Meanwhile, the Greenlandic government has issued emergency preparedness guidelines advising households to maintain five-day supplies of essential provisions, reflecting underlying tensions despite the diplomatic progress.