Diplomacy

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the "old order is not coming back" and urged fellow middle powers to come together in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "Middle powers must act together because if we're not at the table, we're on the menu," Carney said on Tuesday, adding that he believed powerful nations were using economic coercion to get what they want. He also affirmed Canada's support for Greenland, Denmark and the Nato alliance, drawing applause. "Great powers" are often defined as countries with permanent seats on United Nations Security Council - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States - which shows their economic and military dominance in the world. Middle powers, such as Canada, Australia, Argentina, South Korea and Brazil, are nations that still exert large influence in global politics, even though their economies are smaller. In his speech, Carney said the world is "in the midst of a rupture, not a transition". "Great powers have begun using economic integration as weapons, tariffs as leverage, financial infrastructure as coercion, supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited," he said. He also said "Canada was amongst the first to hear the wake-up call" that geography and historic alliances no longer guaranteed security or prosperity. As a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), Canada stands firmly with Greenland and Denmark and supports "their unique right to determine Greenland's future", Carney said in his speech. "Our commitment to Article Five is unwavering," the prime minister added, referring to a clause in the Nato agreement that states an attack against one member state is considered an attack on all. (read the full speech of the Canadian prime minister at Davos by clicking the picture).

Donald Trump continues to claim Greenland, not on the basis of any legal, historical or moral reason, but just because, as he says, “we must have it”. Greenland is a self-governing territory, part of the Kingdom of Denmark which has three constituent parts: mainland Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Copenhagen is responsible for Greenland’s defence and foreign affairs. Trump’s claim is so absurd, that initially it was not taken seriously. It was dismissed as another of Trump’s rants, soon to be forgotten. But on Friday (16 January), the president of the United States imposed from 1 February, 10% additional tariffs on eight European  countries that had dared question his claim: Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, France, Germany, Netherlands and UK; with a threat that the extra tariffs  would increase to 25% on 1 June. Unfortunately, what may first appear to be a Lillipudian soap opera, is in fact a major international crises. Whatever happens now, transatlantic relations will never be the same again. Trust is broken, and the damage will be difficult to repair, even long after Trump has left the White House. Europe must now wake up to reality, and responsibility. NATO needs to change if it is to survive, depending less on the US, and being more agile. Trump’s Greenland threats have poisoned US-Europe relations, but they have also shown the meaning of the word solidarity, not only within the EU, but also with non-EU European countries such as UK and Norway, as well as with Canada. From every crises, an opportunity arises. (click the picture to read the full commentary).