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 speech, mirroring sentiments expressed by French President Emmanuel Macron, sought to transcend the current crisis engulfing Europe and the US over Greenland. He emphasized the importance of smaller countries joining forces to avoid being dominated by larger players.
"Middle powers must recognize the importance of unity, for when you're not at the decision-making table, you're on the menu," Carney declared. He further emphasized that the old world order is no more, and there's no point in merely mourning its demise or clinging to the multilateralism of the post-war era.
"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. Sometimes, this coalition will encompass the vast majority of nations."
Carney elaborated on the need to create a dense network of connections across trade, investment, and culture, which can be leveraged for future challenges and opportunities.
The World Economic Forum meeting in Davos was dominated by Donald Trump's pronouncements on Greenland and European nations' attempts to navigate a way forward. European leaders have increasingly pushed back against Trump's stance on Greenland, particularly after the leak of his text messages with the Norwegian prime minister, where he linked his aggressive position to not receiving the Nobel Prize.
However, Carney's speech stood out for its forward-looking perspective, highlighting the potential future path for medium-sized powers as the world seems to be entering a new era of great power rivalry between the US, China, and Russia.
Carney emphasized that Canada is not powerless, stating, "Great powers can afford to go it alone, with their market size, military capacity, and leverage to dictate terms. Middle powers, however, lack these advantages. When we negotiate bilaterally with a hegemon, we do so from a position of weakness, accepting what is offered and competing to be the most accommodating. This is not true sovereignty."
He continued, "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."
President Macron echoed similar sentiments, advocating for increased 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. Macron emphasized that middle powers cannot passively accept the law of the strongest, leading to vassalization and bloc politics.
"I believe accepting a new colonial approach is nonsensical," he stated.
Carney quoted Czech dissident and later president Václav Havel's essay, "The Power of the Powerless," which explored how the communist system sustained itself. Havel's words resonated with Carney's message, highlighting the importance of not "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 emphasized that the multilateral institutions middle powers relied on, such as the WTO, UN, and COP, have been greatly diminished. As a result, many countries are concluding that they must develop greater strategic autonomy.
He highlighted Canada's recent strategic partnerships with China and Qatar, as well as new trade deals, as examples of this new perspective.
Carney emphasized Canada's strengths, stating, "Canada has what the world wants. 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."
He concluded, "The old order is not returning. We should not mourn its passing. Nostalgia is not a strategy. But from the fracture, we can build something better, stronger, and more just."
Macron also stressed the importance of forging new ties with other trading blocs like the BRICS nations and pushing for European preference in trade arrangements with both the US and China. He implicitly warned Europeans about the need to prioritize investing in Europe first, a warning that carries significant implications for the US, as Europe largely funds its government deficits.
"As Europeans, we have the savings, much more so than the US. However, this saving is overinvested in bonds and sometimes equities, but outside Europe," Macron cautioned.
