Carney's Davos Speech Signals Shift from Rules‑Based Order

On Jan 24 2026, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a stark address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He denounced the “rules‑based international order” that has underpinned multilateral institutions like the UN, WTO, IMF, NATO and G7 since the post‑World War II era, arguing it has become a tool of great‑power rivalry. Carney called on the world’s middle powers – the non‑hegemons – to unite around a new set of principles. The speech followed earlier U.S. President Donald Trump remarks and a June 2018 G7 summit in Charlevoix, Quebec where Canada’s stance on the rules‑based order was debated. Carney’s comments resonate amid domestic pressures, with Ottawa grappling with rising deficit, food inflation and stalled pipeline approvals. Analysts view the speech as a potential pivot for Canada’s foreign‑policy trajectory.