At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a speech declaring Canada's strategic divorce from the United States. He argued the post-World War II global order, built on American hegemony, has become a 'lie' that middle powers can no longer afford to live within. Carney cited the use of economic tools as weapons, urging nations to pursue strategic autonomy.

Carney's speech framed the current geopolitical rupture as a move beyond mere adaptation. He contrasted the old bargain of security and predictability with a new reality where great powers like the U.S. exploit integration for coercion. For Canada, this means abandoning assumptions that geography and alliances automatically ensure prosperity, pushing instead for sovereign capability in energy, food, and finance.

The address signals a potential pivot in global alliances, challenging the foundational role of institutions like NATO and the WTO. Carney positioned Canada as a leader among middle powers, advocating collective action to avoid negotiating from weakness. This move could accelerate a broader realignment, forcing other nations to reconsider their dependency on American-led systems and infrastructure.