How Mark Carney’s speeches have become political earthquakes
The quiet-spoken Canadian prime minister has spoken unutterable truths
TL;DR
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered two notable speeches in 2026, marking a shift from his typically reserved demeanor.
- The first speech at Davos declared a "rupture in the world order" and the "end of a pleasant fiction," suggesting the world could no longer rely on US leadership (Pax Americana).
- Carney called for nations with shared values to align and for "middle-sized powers" to act collectively, notably excluding the United States from this new "geometry."
- The second speech announced the cancellation of trade talks with the US, attributed to last-minute "power moves" and bullying by US negotiators, reminiscent of the Trump administration's approach to other deals.
- Carney's statements were contrasted with Donald Trump's "puerile insults" on social media, highlighting Carney's factual and morally grounded approach.
- Canada aims to diversify its foreign relationships, expressing a lack of trust in the unpredictable US, which Carney described as having a "signature written in pencil."
- The article suggests the US is the loser in this negotiation, facing potential damage to its interests for a generation as Canada seeks new alliances.
- Carney stated, "Canada is becoming stronger and less dependent on America. We are already giving ourselves more than they can take away."