Carney Says Old World Order ‘Is Not Coming Back’

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has warned that the traditional global order is over, urging middle-power nations to unite in the face of growing economic and geopolitical coercion by major powers.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Carney said the world is experiencing a fundamental rupture rather than a gradual transition. He stressed that countries with moderate but significant global influence must act collectively to protect their interests.

“Middle powers must act together because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu,” Carney said, drawing applause from delegates.

While he did not mention former US President Donald Trump by name, Carney’s remarks appeared to reference recent threats of tariffs and territorial pressure involving Greenland, Europe, and Canada. Trump has previously referred to Canada as the “51st state” and suggested economic force as a tool of influence.

Carney criticised what he described as the growing use of economic integration as a weapon, with tariffs, financial systems, and supply chains increasingly deployed as tools of coercion by powerful nations.

“Great powers have begun using tariffs as leverage, financial infrastructure as coercion, and supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited,” he said.

Reaffirming Canada’s global alliances, Carney expressed firm support for Greenland, Denmark, and NATO, emphasising that Canada stands by the principle that Greenland has the right to determine its own future. He reiterated Canada’s unwavering commitment to Article Five of NATO, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.

The prime minister also noted that historic alliances and geography no longer guarantee national security or economic stability, adding that Canada was among the first nations to recognise this shift.

Canadian media have reported that Ottawa is considering sending a small contingent of troops to Greenland for NATO-related military exercises. When asked about the reports, Foreign Minister Anita Anand said Canada regularly participates in NATO exercises and that future deployments are decided by defence leadership.

Looking ahead, Carney said Canada is adapting by building flexible coalitions based on shared values and interests, rather than relying on traditional power blocs. He positioned Canada as a “stable and reliable partner,” citing recent trade and investment agreements with China and Qatar, as well as a defence procurement pact signed with the European Union last year.

Carney is one of several global leaders attending the World Economic Forum this week, with Donald Trump scheduled to address the gathering on Wednesday.