At the World Economic Forum in Davos, leaders of two countries that have benefited from the so-called “rules-based order” gave the world starkly different frames of its demise. While recognising the hard realities presented by America’s unilateralism, Carney suggested a possible roadmap for middle powers. US President Donald Trump, speaking just hours after Carney, confirmed the crisis. As the Canadian PM acknowledged, “For decades, countries like Canada prospered under what we called the rules-based international order. This context forms the backdrop of Carney’s call for middle powers to, in essence, forge minilaterals to increase their negotiating power.

Source: Indian Express January 23, 2026 12:09 UTC