Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the World Economic Forum’s 56th annual meeting in Davos on its second day. In a special address at this summit, Carney praised the strengths of the middle powers.
Carney cautioned about the likely end of the rules-based international order. He outlined how Canada was adapting by building strategic autonomy. This is done while maintaining values like human rights & sovereignty.
The Canadian PM called on middle powers, such as his own, to work together to counter the rise of hard power and the great power rivalry. This is to build a more cooperative, resilient world.
PM Mark Carney’s entire speech transcript was produced using AI and subsequently edited for style and clarity. The edits don’t alter the substance of the speaker’s remarks.
Thank you very much, Larry. I’m going to start in French, and then I’ll switch back to English.
Thank you, Larry. It’s both a pleasure and a duty to be with you tonight in this pivotal moment that Canada and the world are currently experiencing.
Today, I’ll talk about a rupture in the world order. The end of a pleasant fiction, whilst it may be the beginning of a harsh reality. It’s where geopolitics, where the large, main power geopolitics, is submitted to no limits, no constraints.
On the other hand, I would like to tell you that the other countries, especially intermediate powers like Canada, aren’t powerless. These intermediate powers have the capacity to build a new order that encompasses our values. Also, it would include respect for human rights, sustainable development, solidarity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the various states.
The power of the less powerful commences with honesty.
It seems that every day, we’re reminded that we live in an era of great power rivalry. The rules-based order is fading. The strong can do what they can. This is whilst the weak must suffer what they must.
