The annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos concluded this week amid a palpable shift in tone, departing from its typical atmosphere of collegiality [[1]]. While the gathering of global leaders usually centers on economic and social issues, this yearS discussions were significantly shaped by concerns over escalating geopolitical tensions and domestic instability in the United States. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s forceful address, delivered against a backdrop of reported U.S. military preparations and escalating domestic conflict, signaled a growing international reckoning wiht the increasingly erratic behavior of former President Donald Trump [[2]], who addressed the forum earlier in the week.
Sweden’s Naiveté on Display at Davos
The annual gathering of global elites in the Swiss alpine village of Davos has concluded, leaving observers to assess the mood and substance of this year’s discussions. The meeting brings together influential figures in politics, business, and academia, and often serves as a barometer for the state of the world.
Typically, the event is a collegial affair, with the most significant event being a challenge to billionaires to contribute more to the common good, as delivered by Dutch historian Rutger Bregman.
This year, however, the atmosphere was markedly different.
Days before the meeting began, former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly stated his willingness to consider acquiring Greenland, prompting widespread confusion and debate among world leaders and journalists.
Amidst the uncertainty, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a stark assessment of the current global landscape in a 17-minute address.
Continued and widespread domestic terror from Trump’s stormtroopers is likely, some form of economic and military hybrid warfare against Canada is a real risk.
Carney began by referencing Václav Havel’s essay “The Power of the Powerless,” which describes how authoritarian regimes rely not only on a monopoly of force, but also on the silent consent of the majority.
Crucially, Carney highlighted the disconnect between the reality of the situation and the rhetoric employed by the world’s elite, criticizing the repeated calls to restore a “rules-based international order” and characterizing the deferential approach to Trump since his election – and for much longer – as a humiliating charade.
Prior to Carney’s speech, reports surfaced that the Canadian military had begun training for guerilla warfare in preparation for a potential U.S. invasion.
A prudent measure, according to observers.
In Minnesota, President Trump’s private, black-clad paramilitary forces are currently engaged in intimidating citizens who voted for his opponent. The conflict is escalating, with 1,500 soldiers expected to be deployed to the state soon. Conservative historian Robert Kagan pointed out this week that the intent is to acclimate the population to violence in anticipation of future events. A likely scenario in the upcoming midterm elections is that “unrest” will occur in Democratic states during voting, which could then be brutally suppressed and emergency laws enacted.
Trump is now, like Putin, an enemy of Europe.
While Trump may not succeed in stealing or intimidating his way to a victory this fall, he is guaranteed to try. The key point is that, at this stage, the world must acknowledge reality. Continued and widespread domestic terror from Trump’s forces is likely, and some form of economic and military hybrid warfare against Canada remains a real risk.
Many of us in 2022 cautioned Sweden against entering a NATO partnership reliant on the military power of a country where democracy was rapidly weakening. My view then – and now – was that NATO represents an outdated political logic centered on the United States, ill-equipped to handle the security risks of a multipolar world. Instead, I advocated for a vision of a stronger EU, both militarily and politically.
Four years have passed since then, and I struggle to express my lack of confidence in a Swedish political, security, and media establishment that has consistently downplayed developments in the U.S. and remained fixated on the transatlantic link, hoping that the bizarre figure in the White House could be “managed.”
Let’s be clear. Trump is now, like Putin, an adversary of Europe. What is truly concerning is not only this fact, but also that we have allowed ourselves to remain in denial for so long. I can only attribute this to our leaders being too comfortable, too entrenched in old structures, too afraid to offend each other, and too captive to their own time.
What Trump is doing and believes is well-documented. He is a power-hungry racist who thrives on dominance and submission, and adheres to the American narrative of white supremacy. Rather than relying on news reports about Trump – which often portray him as more normal and reasonable than he is – it is more revealing to listen to his own words, such as in his speech in Davos, where he openly discussed his vision for a world based on white power, claiming that European civilization is being lost due to “uncontrolled mass immigration” from cultures unable to build their own societies, and making disparaging remarks about the intelligence of Somalis.
Mark Carney’s speech lacked visions for a better, more just world, and he stands far from me politically. Nevertheless, his words were liberating.
Political leaders today so often act without regard for truth. They lie to voters, change their minds, and tailor their messages to specific demographics. They are stuck in an old logic and unable to admit that the world has changed – because doing so would require answers they do not have. Carney’s speech offered a rare moment of honesty, where the audience understood this is what he actually believes. He laid bare his fears, the dangers and opportunities as he sees them.
In this candor – which carries a moral weight in itself – may lie the beginning of a better conversation about the future. In these dangerous times, it is uplifting, even liberating.
