Carney Davos Speech Highlights Global Security Risks
DAVOS, Switzerland — Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a forceful address at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, arguing that the global rules-based international order has entered a period of rupture rather than transition and urging middle-power nations to respond with honesty, resilience, and coordinated action.
Speaking to a standing ovation in Davos, Carney rejected what he described as the growing tendency for countries to “go along to get along” in the face of great-power rivalry, warning that compliance and accommodation no longer guarantee security.
“We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition,” Carney said, adding that economic integration is increasingly being used as a tool of coercion rather than mutual benefit.
“Living Within a Lie” No Longer Works
Drawing on the writings of Czech dissident and former president Václav Havel, Carney argued that the illusion of a functioning rules-based system has persisted because countries continued to perform as if it were true, even when reality contradicted it.
He said that middle powers must now “take the sign out of the window” and acknowledge that global institutions and norms no longer operate as advertised, particularly when enforcement is applied unevenly depending on power and influence.
According to Carney, the erosion of trust in institutions such as the WTO, the UN, and multilateral climate frameworks has left countries increasingly exposed, forcing them to rethink how sovereignty is protected.
In an era of great power rivalry, Canada is choosing to be principled and pragmatic. To name reality, to act together, and to build what we claim to believe in. pic.twitter.com/ytZKt6sRyw
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) January 20, 2026
Sovereignty Defined by Resilience, Not Dependence
Carney defined modern sovereignty as “the ability to withstand pressure,” emphasizing that countries unable to feed, fuel, or defend themselves have limited options when global rules fail.
He cautioned, however, that a world of self-contained economic and security “fortresses” would be poorer, more fragile, and less sustainable. Instead, he advocated for shared investments in resilience and collective standards that reduce fragmentation.
“Risk management comes at a price,” he said, “but that cost can also be shared.”
Canada’s Shift to “Values-Based Realism”
The Prime Minister outlined what he described as Canada’s new strategic posture — a blend of principled commitment and pragmatic engagement. He reaffirmed Canada’s support for sovereignty, territorial integrity, human rights, and the prohibition of force except under international law, while acknowledging that progress is often incremental and partners will not always share the same values.
Since taking office, Carney said his government has moved to strengthen Canada’s domestic foundation by cutting taxes on income and investment, removing federal barriers to interprovincial trade, and fast-tracking up to $1 trillion in investments across energy, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, defence, and new trade corridors.
Canada is also doubling defence spending by the end of the decade, with investments aimed at strengthening domestic industry while expanding military capabilities.
Security, Arctic Sovereignty, and NATO Commitments
Carney reaffirmed Canada’s unwavering commitment to NATO’s Article 5 and highlighted increased cooperation with Nordic and Baltic allies to secure NATO’s northern and western flanks.
He underscored Canada’s firm support for Greenland and Denmark’s right to determine Greenland’s future and said Canada strongly opposes the use of tariffs or economic pressure related to Arctic sovereignty disputes.
Canada’s investments, he said, include expanded radar systems, new submarines, enhanced air capabilities, and increased military presence in Arctic regions.
Building Coalitions, Not Choosing Sides
Rather than retreating from global engagement, Carney said Canada is pursuing what he termed “variable geometry” — forming issue-specific coalitions based on shared interests and values.
He pointed to Canada’s participation in the coalition supporting Ukraine, its work with G7 partners on critical mineral supply chains, and cooperation with like-minded democracies on artificial intelligence governance.
Carney also addressed Canada’s recent diplomatic engagements with major economies, stressing that strategic partnerships are being calibrated with clear guardrails to balance opportunity with national security.
“When middle powers negotiate alone with a hegemon, we negotiate from weakness,” he said. “Acting together creates a third path.”
“Nostalgia Is Not a Strategy”
In closing, Carney argued that the old global order will not return and should not be mourned. Instead, he said the task ahead is to build something stronger and more just from the current fracture.
Canada, he said, is choosing to confront reality directly, invest in its own strength, and work with willing partners to shape a more resilient global system.
“We are taking the sign out of the window,” Carney said. “We choose this path openly and confidently.”
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