A bold call to action has been issued by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, urging smaller nations to unite and resist being overshadowed by larger powers. In a compelling speech at the World Economic Forum, Carney emphasized the need for middle powers to forge new alliances and shared interests, creating a fresh world order.
Carney's address, mirroring the sentiments expressed by French President Emmanuel Macron, sought to transcend the ongoing crisis surrounding Donald Trump's claims on Greenland and encourage smaller countries to join forces.
"Middle powers must recognize the importance of unity, for when you're not at the table, you're on the menu," Carney declared, adding that the old world order is no more and that mourning its passing or clinging to the multilateralism of the post-war era is futile.
"This is not about naive multilateralism or relying on weakened institutions," he clarified. "It's about building effective coalitions, issue by issue, with partners who share enough common ground to act together. In some cases, this will involve the vast majority of nations."
Carney further elaborated on the need to establish a dense network of connections across trade, investment, and culture, creating a foundation for future challenges and opportunities.
The Canadian Prime Minister's speech, delivered on the first full day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, stood out amidst the dominance of Donald Trump's pronouncements on Greenland and the efforts of European nations to chart a way forward.
European leaders have been increasingly vocal in their opposition to Trump's stance on Greenland, particularly following the leak of the president's text messages with the Norwegian Prime Minister, in which Trump linked his more aggressive position to not receiving the Nobel Prize.
Carney's speech was widely praised for its forward-thinking perspective, asserting the position and potential future trajectory of medium-sized powers as the world appears to be entering a new era of great power rivalry between the US, China, and Russia.
"Canada is not powerless," Carney emphasized. "Great powers can afford to go it alone, but middle powers do not. When we negotiate bilaterally with a hegemon, we do so from a position of weakness. We accept what is offered and compete to be the most accommodating. This is not sovereignty; it's a performance of sovereignty while accepting subordination."
"Middle powers like Canada have the capacity to build a new order that embodies our values, such as respect for human rights, sustainable development, solidarity, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states," he added.
President Macron echoed similar sentiments, advocating for greater economic sovereignty and a "strategic economy." He focused specifically on the challenges facing Europe, both economically and strategically, in the context of the US and China.
"Middle powers cannot passively accept the law of the strongest, which leads to vassalisation and bloc politics," Macron stated. "I believe that accepting a new colonial approach is nonsensical."
Carney quoted Czech dissident and later president, Václav Havel, from his essay "The Power of the Powerless," which explored how the communist system sustained itself.
"It was not through violence alone, but through the participation of ordinary people in rituals they privately know to be false," Carney explained, referring to Havel's concept of "living within a lie."
"For decades, countries like Canada thrived under what we called the rules-based international order. We joined its institutions, praised its principles, and benefited from its predictability. We could pursue values-based foreign policies under its protection. But this bargain no longer works. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition."
Carney highlighted the diminished state of multilateral institutions that middle powers once relied upon, such as the WTO, the UN, and the COP, stating that many countries are now concluding that they must develop greater strategic autonomy.
He cited Canada's recent strategic partnerships with China and Qatar, as well as new trade deals, as examples of this new perspective.
"Canada has what the world wants," Carney asserted, drawing parallels with Australia. "We are an energy superpower with vast reserves of critical minerals. We have the most educated population globally, and our pension funds are among the world's largest and most sophisticated investors. We possess capital, talent, and a government with immense fiscal capacity to act decisively."
"The old order is not returning, and nostalgia is not a strategy. But from this fracture, we can build something better, stronger, and more just."
Macron also emphasized the importance of forging new ties with trading blocs like the BRICS nations and advocated for European preference in trade arrangements with both the US and China. He implicitly warned that Europeans should consider prioritizing investment in Europe rather than other countries, a cautionary note for the United States, which relies heavily on European funding for its government deficits.
"As Europeans, we have the savings, much more so than the US. But this saving is overinvested in bonds and sometimes in equities outside Europe," Macron noted.
The speeches by Carney and Macron have sparked intriguing discussions about the future of middle powers and their role in shaping a new world order. What are your thoughts on their proposals? Do you agree that smaller nations must unite to counter the influence of larger powers? Feel free to share your opinions and engage in a thought-provoking dialogue in the comments section below!
