The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 is underway in Davos, Switzerland, from January 19 to 23, bringing together global leaders under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue.”
The 55th edition of the summit has drawn nearly 65 heads of state and government, along with around 850 chief executives and business leaders, as the world faces one of its most complex geopolitical moments in decades.
Against a backdrop of rising global fragmentation and rapid technological change, WEF President and CEO Børge Brende underlined the importance of engagement. “Dialogue is not a luxury in times of uncertainty; it is an urgent necessity,” Brende said.
Trump and Geopolitics
In his hour-long address yesterday, United States President Donald Trump spoke on trade, tariffs, regional security, artificial intelligence and nuclear power. He announced what he described as a “framework for a future deal” with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte concerning Greenland and the Arctic region. The move helped ease immediate trade tensions after he stepped back from tariffs scheduled to begin on February 1.
Reiterating his long-standing interest in Greenland, Trump ruled out the use of force.
“I have tremendous respect for both the people of Greenland and the people of Denmark. But every NATO ally has an obligation to be able to defend their own territory. No nation is in a position to secure Greenland other than the United States. We need it for strategic national security and international security,” he said, adding that the US had recently demonstrated its power in Venezuela.
On Venezuela, Trump said, “Venezuela has been an amazing place for so many years, but then they went bad with their policies. But we’re helping them. Venezuela is going to make more money in the next six months than they’ve made in the last 20 years. Every major oil company is coming in with us.”
He also stressed transatlantic ties, saying, “The United States cares greatly about the people of Europe. We believe deeply in the bonds we share with Europe as a civilization.”
Global Calls for Cooperation
China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng used his address to warn against protectionism, saying “tariffs and trade wars have no winners.” He said China was willing to expand imports and act as a global market. “China is all countries’ trading partner rather than an adversary, and China’s development is an opportunity rather than a threat to global economic development,” he said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe was adapting to a new era of protectionism while seeking stronger global ties. “Europe will always choose the world, and the world is ready to choose Europe,” she said, adding that Europe “needs to adjust to a new security architecture.”
Mohammed Mustafa, Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, during an in-depth discussion with the Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, examined the legacy of the Oslo Accords and discussed Palestinian independence, saying he would push for a “dignified life” for the Palestinian people.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin, welcoming delegates, called for collective action. “Society, science, economics and politics must work together hand in hand, in a spirit of partnership,” he said.
Similarly, French President Emmanuel Macron described the moment as a turning point, saying “we are living through a profound global shift,” and stressed the need for multilateralism amid growing global use of force.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi highlighted global challenges and urged cooperation for shared benefit. Leaders from Qatar, Canada and Morocco also spoke, focusing on evolving security structures and the need for cooperation to avoid mutual threats. Iran is not participating in this year’s meeting.
AI in Focus at Davos
Artificial intelligence emerged as a central theme, with leaders discussing its growing impact across sectors. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stressed the need for AI to deliver “useful” outcomes, while warning that infrastructure gaps could widen global inequalities.
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis called for international safety standards, cautioning that competition was accelerating AI development without sufficient safeguards.
Meanwhile, India’s Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who is representing India at the forum, said that building massive large language models does not automatically give countries a geopolitical “edge,” adding that returns on heavy AI investments depend on how effectively the technology is deployed.
“India has its own bouquet of models which can be used for 95% of our work. So does creating a large model give you geopolitical power? I don’t think so,” he said, noting that India is well placed to lead by helping global firms integrate AI into their operations.
Discussions at Davos today and tomorrow will also focus on the blue economy, finance, anti-semitism, cybercrime, agricultural transformation, and adapting to geopolitical shifts expected in 2026.
Leave a Reply