World Economic Forum 2026: Key Takeaways from Global Leaders
by VT Markets
/
Jan 23, 2026
The 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), held from 19-23 January 2026, gathered over 60 heads of state to discuss pressing international issues. The theme, “A Spirit of Dialogue”, shaped discussions around global instability, trade dynamics, and the need for strategic autonomy.
What Is the World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international non-governmental organisation that brings together leaders from government, business, academia, and civil society to discuss pressing global challenges. The Annual Meeting, held in Davos, Switzerland, serves as a platform for public-private cooperation, addressing critical issues such as economic stability, environmental challenges, and global security.
While the urgency of the conversation revolves around Trump’s tariff’s moves, many leaders brought the conversation back to wider concerns about reducing threats to global trade. Here’s what went down.
Trump TACO
With many statements and geopolitical moves coming from the United States in the past week, Trump’s speech falls into the same pattern of ‘chickening out‘ on his original agenda.
“I will not be imposing the tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st.”
His decision to delay tariffs on Denmark was positioned as a temporary easing of tensions, yet it also reflected the broader context of trade negotiations that would unfold in the coming months.
By ruling out military options, he signalled a shift towards negotiation, his insistence on the potential for future discussions pointed to a continued U.S. interest in asserting influence over Greenland and the broader Arctic region.
Rasmussen’s caution
Danish Foreign Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, acknowledged the positive diplomatic shift regarding the military threat but warned that the underlying issue of Greenland’s sovereignty and future remains unresolved.
A wary unease, “that does not make the problem go away,the challenge is still there.” highlighted that the diplomatic path ahead would be long and complex.
Carney’s take on comfort zones
Canadian Prime Minister Carney’s comments represented a broader shift in Canadian foreign policy thinking. He warned against relying on traditional alliances and geography as guarantees of prosperity.
“Many countries are drawing the same conclusions. They must develop greater strategic autonomy: in energy, food, critical minerals, in finance and supply chains.”
Emphasising a need for more autonomy, it echoed the northern hemisphere’s concerns of national security and resilience in the face of shifting geopolitical dynamics, particularly regarding the Arctic.
France welcomed foreign as familiar
Emmanuel Macron, the French president, highlighted the growing instability in the global system, a theme central to the WEF discussions.
He positioned China not as a rival, but as a partner whose investments in key sectors could help Europe weather these imbalances, “to transfer some technologies and not just to export towards Europe.”
His call for more balanced and reciprocal foreign direct investment from China was a strategic move to encourage economic collaboration and open reciprocal investment channels
Expanding trade possibilities in China
He LiFeng, China’s Vice-Premier presents a clear response to the growing scepticism around China’s influence, promoting an open-door policy that aligns with international trade standards.
“China will open its door still wider to the world,” assuring that “China’s development presents an opportunity, not a threat, to the global economy.”
He sought to assure the global community that China was committed to fairness and cooperation, emphasising mutual benefits from foreign investment and the potential of working with them.
Emerging Markets Positioning
Latin America (Free-Market Advocacy): President Javier Milei commented on the need for market-driven policies, rejecting state intervention as detrimental to economic growth, and advocating for greater investment and liberalisation to ensure long-term prosperity.
North Africa (Strategic Trade Hub): Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch of Morocco, positions its geography location as a crucial crossroads for trade between Europe, Africa, and the Atlantic, aiming to enhance regional cooperation and capitalise on its strategic location for global commerce.
Middle East (Security and Trust-Building): Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani (Qatar) call for a shift from military solutions to diplomatic efforts focused on building trust, addressing root causes of insecurity, and fostering regional cooperation to ensure lasting peace and stability.
Economic Priorities
The WEF discussions centred around several key and urgent matters:
Geopolitical Shifts: Leaders acknowledged the rising tensions in regions like the Arctic and ongoing wars in the Middle East, with an increasing need to rethink national security and economic independence.
Strategic Autonomy: A growing consensus emerged that nations must build resilience and reduce reliance on external powers, particularly in areas like energy, food security, and critical minerals.
Economic Cooperation: The importance of international cooperation was emphasised, particularly in trade relations with China. Leaders highlighted the need for foreign investments to align with mutual goals of growth, technological transfer, and prosperity.
Global instability is the current appearance, but international collaboration continues to be seen as essential to tackling these issues. Leaders increasingly recognise the need for economic self-sufficiency, particularly in energy, food, and critical resources. Reducing over-reliance on global supply chains and external geopolitical forces is crucial for maintaining stability in the future.
What’s Next?
In summary, the overarching message from the WEF is one of global recalibration—a move away from reliance on external forces and towards a more self-reliant and cooperative world order. Nations are recalculating their positions in the global system, focusing on strategic autonomy, economic cooperation, and regional stability as they navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
Market movements around the political moves show that trade policy ambiguity is currently a major driver of investor sentiment, reversing risk‑off moves and influencing currencies like the euro and the U.S. dollar as much as economic data. Explore CFD price action on forex, equities, and commodities at VT Markets.
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