Prime Minister Mark Carney’s keynote address at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos has sparked widespread international coverage as global news organizations weigh the future amid rising geopolitical tensions.
PM Carney stated in his speech that the old world order — the “rules-based international order” — is not coming back and urged middle powers to band together to build a more resilient global system.
Here’s global reaction to PM Carney’s keynote speech. You can watch the full speech in the video above.
U.S. President Donald Trump
While Carney did not directly mention Trump by name in his speech, his remarks were clearly a thinly veiled retort to the current U.S. administration’s aggressive foreign policy. In his own speech at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, Trump rebuked Carney while discussing the U.S.’s proposed Golden Dome missile defence system.
“We’re building a Golden Dome that’s going to, just by its very nature, going to be defending Canada,” Trump said.
“Canada gets a lot of freebies from us, by the way. They should be grateful also, but they’re not. I watched your prime minister yesterday, he wasn’t so grateful. But they should be grateful to us. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
U.S. news coverage
The New York Times
The New York Times highlighted PM Carney’s declaration the world is “in the midst of a rupture, not a transition.”
The Times also published an analysis of the prime minister’s speech, which looked back at both PM Carney and Canada’s relationship with the U.S. since Donald Trump was elected for a second term as U.S. president.
“He never mentioned President Trump by name, but his reference was clear,” they wrote.
Politico
Politico framed PM Carney’s address as part of a broader effort to balance Ottawa’s relationships with both Washington and its European partners amid rising global tensions.
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone also reported on the Davos forum, noting PM Carney’s alignment with global criticism of the Trump’s approach.
The Washington Post
Carney’s speech made it to the top of the Washington Post’s homepage, where the newspaper highlighted the prime minister’s comments about a “rupture in the world order.”
International news coverage
ABC News
Australia’s ABC News focused on Carney’s comments about “middle powers” needing to band together so they are not overpowered by larger nations. The public broadcaster also highlighted Carney’s statement about Canada having “what the world wants,” suggesting the same holds true for resource-rich Australia.
BBC
BBC’s coverage of PM Carney’s speech framed it as a warning about the waning influence of the post-war global order and the rise of “economic coercion” by powerful nations.
El Pais
Spanish newspaper El Pais described PM Carney’s speech as a call for cooperation and independence, positioning it against what it called “imperial ambitions.”
The Guardian
In an analysis piece published on Wednesday, The Guardian described Carney as the “unflinching realist ready to tackle Trump.” As of Wednesday morning, the article was the second most read story on The Guardian’s international website.
Al Jazeera
The Qatari news outlet Al Jazeera focused on Carney’s statement about there being a “rupture” in the U.S.-led global system. The government-funded network also highlighted Carney’s comments about “middle powers” needing to unite to resist being coerced by aggressive superpowers.
Der Spiegel
On German news website Der Spiegel, a commentary article said that Carney’s speech “outlined what no one in Europe has dared to do so far: a West without the U.S.A.”
Political pundits, notable figures
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner
In an online column, Conservative member of Parliament Michelle Rempel Garner said Canada’s “domestic pressures did not begin with the current American administration” but instead grew over the past decade of Liberal party rule.
“Words do matter, especially in moments of crisis like the one Canada presently finds itself in,” the MP for Calgary Nose Hill said. “But action was conspicuously lacking from Mr. Carney’s speech.”
Carney’s speech, Rempel Garner added, “must not be lauded as a victory in and of itself.”
“Now he must do something much more difficult: deliver concrete, practical details on how Canada’s ruling political class will summon the necessary resolve, resources, and urgency to break through a decade of inertia and complacency, smash through taboos, and build a nation that is truly strong, self-reliant, and independent,” Rempel Garner said. “Said differently, words alone cannot shield us. Action must follow, and it must start now.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, California Gov. Gavin Newsom applauded Carney’s speech.
“I thought yesterday’s comments by Prime Minister Carney were effective,” Newsom said on Wednesday.
When asked about Trump’s World Economic Forum speech that same day, Newsom described it as “remarkably boring.”
The Democratic governor has been a vocal critic of Trump and is widely expected to make a bid for the White House in the 2028 U.S. presidential election.
CTV News political commentator Scott Reid
“Without question this was the most powerful, most important speech from Carney since he became Prime Minister. It is a declaration – a doctrine – of how Canada, and other middle powers for that matter, will need to conduct themselves in a world where rules are being erased,” Reid said in a LinkedIn post.
CTV News political commentator James Moore
“Elections are for later. Vote Conservative, vote Liberal - that choice will come. Put down your partisan swords today and take a moment and listen to this speech and what is being framed. These times are not like any other,” Moore said in a post to X.
Elections are for later. Vote Conservative, vote Liberal - that choice will come. Put down your partisan swords today and take a moment and listen to this speech and what is being framed. These times are not like any other. https://t.co/Aw4wiPHfuj
— James Moore (@honjamesmoore) January 20, 2026
Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig
Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig — who was detained by China for more than 1,000 days between 2018 and 2021 — says PM Carney’s address was “the best speech by a world leader that I have read in a very long time.”
“Rhetorically, at least, he has met the geopolitical moment,” Kovrig wrote.
This is the best speech by a world leader that I have read in a very long time. More later, but for now, just read what @MarkJCarney has to say. Rhetorically, at least, he has met the geopolitical moment.https://t.co/rZEApQfuvO pic.twitter.com/S4qRuwBm4X
— Michael Kovrig (@MichaelKovrig) January 20, 2026
Canadian author and TV personality Arlene Dickinson
“This is what true world leadership looks like. Intelligent. Decisive. Brave. Practical. Clear eyed. Principled. Collaborative. Steadfast,“ Dickinson wrote on LinkedIn.
“I feel incredibly proud of our nation. This is his moment because he knows it’s ours. He has the knowledge and the utmost conviction of what we are and who we can be.”
New York Times’ columnist Nicholas Kristof
“Canadian Prime Minister (Mark Carney’s) speech at Davos is quite brilliant,” he wrote. “Without vitriol or exaggeration, he outlines the harsh new world that Trump is leading us all toward.”
Canadian Prime Minister @MarkJCarney's speech at Davos is quite brilliant. Without vitriol or exaggeration, he outlines the harsh new world that Trump is leading us all toward. Here's the full text; much recommended: https://t.co/H3TWppgsY6
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) January 20, 2026
English business magnate Richard Branson
“Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech today is one of the most insightful, albeit sobering, political speeches in a long time. Carney tells it as it is: ‘If you’re not at the table you’ll be on the menu,’” Branson said in a post to LinkedIn.
With files from CTV National News’ Annie Bergeron-Oliver and CTV News’ Spencer Van Dyk
