Carney Declares the Old Global Order Over, Calls on Middle Powers to Unite at Davos
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a blunt warning to the global political and economic elite this week, declaring that the postwar international order is effectively finished and urging “middle powers” to band together before they are sidelined by aggressive great-power politics. Speaking Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Carney said the world is not undergoing a gradual transition but experiencing a rupture driven by economic coercion, weaponized trade, and eroding alliances.
“The old order is not coming back,” Carney said. “Middle powers must act together because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”
The remarks drew sustained applause from the audience and were widely interpreted as a direct rebuke of the United States’ increasingly confrontational posture toward allies even though Carney did not mention U.S. President Donald Trump by name.
A World Dividing Into Power Blocs
Carney warned that major powers are now openly using economic tools as leverage rather than cooperation mechanisms.
“Great powers have begun using economic integration as weapons, tariffs as leverage, financial infrastructure as coercion, supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited,” he said.
In geopolitical terms, “great powers” are typically defined as nations with permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, reflecting their military and economic dominance. By contrast, “middle powers” such as Canada, Australia, Brazil, South Korea, and Argentina wield significant diplomatic and regional influence without the same scale of military or economic reach. Carney argued those countries must now coordinate more closely to protect sovereignty, economic stability, and democratic norms.
Canada’s Wake-Up Call
Carney said Canada learned early that geography and history no longer guarantee security or prosperity.
“Canada was among the first to hear the wake-up call,” he said, referencing trade shocks and diplomatic tensions that followed Trump’s return to office.
Since retaking the presidency, Trump has repeatedly referred to Canada as the “51st state” and suggested the two countries could be unified through what he described as “economic force.” The rhetoric was followed by steep U.S. tariffs on Canadian exports, straining one of the world’s most deeply integrated trading relationships.
Greenland, NATO, and a Red Line
Carney’s speech took a sharper turn when he addressed Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Trump has escalated his rhetoric in recent weeks, threatening tariffs against European allies and the United Kingdom unless Greenland is surrendered to U.S. control. He recently posted an image on social media depicting the U.S., Canada, and Greenland under a single American flag.
Carney forcefully rejected the idea.
“Canada stands firmly with Greenland and Denmark and supports their unique right to determine Greenland’s future,” he said.
As a member of NATO, Carney reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to the alliance’s core defense principle.
“Our commitment to Article Five is unwavering,” he added, referring to NATO’s collective defense clause stating that an attack on one member is an attack on all.
Military Exercises and Diplomatic Signals
Canadian media outlets reported earlier this week that Ottawa is considering sending a small contingent of troops to Greenland to participate in joint military exercises with Danish and other European forces. Asked about the reports in Davos, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said Canada regularly takes part in NATO exercises and that deployment decisions rest with the Minister of National Defence and the chief of defence staff.
Canada’s Department of National Defence has not publicly confirmed any planned deployment.
A New Strategy for a Fragmented World
Carney said Canada is responding to the shifting geopolitical landscape by deepening ties beyond traditional alliances and building what he described as “different coalitions for different issues.” He positioned Canada as a dependable partner in an increasingly unstable world, pointing to recent trade and investment agreements with China and Qatar, as well as a defense procurement pact signed last year with the European Union.
Carney is one of several world leaders addressing the forum this week. Trump is scheduled to deliver his own remarks on Wednesday, setting up a stark contrast between two competing visions for the global order, one rooted in multilateral cooperation among mid-sized democracies, the other centered on raw economic and political leverage.
