Canada lives because of US: Trump to Mark Carney after fiery speech

UPDATED: Jan 21, 2026 20:20 IST

A day after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared at the World Economic Forum that the US-led global order was fading, Donald Trump needled him on the same stage, saying the US’s northern neighbour was “not grateful” despite receiving several “freebies” from Washington, DC.

“Canada lives because of the United States,” Trump said, adding, “Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”

Carney's speech created waves as he called on “middle powers” to “act together” as he said there was a “rupture in the current diplomatic phase.”

He cautioned middle powers that "if you are not at the table, you are on the menu." Carney described this era as one of transactional geopolitics and called for a reassessment of alliances and strategies. He stressed the importance of ensuring that smaller and mid-sized nations are active participants in shaping outcomes.

Carney called for defending sovereign integrity, arguing that middle powers should stop participating in "the lie of mutual benefit," suggesting that traditional multilateralism may now put their interests at risk. He recommended abandoning ineffective practices in favour of new forms of engagement.

Emphasising proactive cooperation, Carney encouraged countries to create a "dense web of connections" to protect them from being subordinated to "hegemonic interests." This approach, he suggested, could help nations maintain autonomy and avoid marginalisation in a fragmented system.

The speech took place amid growing global instability, including tariff threats from Washington targeting European nations, pressure to support President Trump's Greenland annexation plan, and the dramatic capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, underlining the volatile climate in which Carney delivered his remarks.

- Ends