Canadian Prime Minister Carney. “A realist ready to stand up to Trump”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, arguing in Davos that medium-sized countries are not powerless against pressure from the superpowers, revealed himself as a politician who can stand up to US President Donald Trump – said the British daily “The Guardian”.

Carney said, among other things, that the old world order is breaking down, the superpowers are using economic integration as a weapon, and The tendency of some countries to adapt to the requirements of stronger countries is becoming more and more visible. He emphasized, however, that medium-sized countries are not powerless and they can create these alliances.

“The Guardian” points out that the Prime Minister of Canada, appearing at various summits over the years as an economist and head of the central bank, has often talked about the values ​​of international cooperation, the need for open economies and common rules, but during Tuesday's speech he presented a much more blunt assessment of the situation in the world.

The daily quotes the opinion of Jack Cunningham, professor of international relations at the University of Toronto, who said that Carney is more realistic in this assessment than other politicians.

– Leaders in other Western capitals refer to Trump's “dangerous deviations” from the norm, but always return to the possibility that he can be appeased or met. Carney exposed that this is simply not true, Cunningham said. – Carney is the first significant Western leader to fundamentally acknowledge this reality. Many leaders abroad are looking for someone to set the direction. And this speech is a direction-setter, he explained.

As “The Guardian” writes, Carney's transition from the role of an economist to the role of a significant leader in the world results largely from the thesis that geographic proximity, close economic integration and long-standing political alliances with the United States no longer guarantee prosperity and security. He reminds that both countries are preparing for long-term trade negotiations, and Trump has repeatedly threatened to annex Canada.

– Carney understands that there is no need to irritate the president, but there is also no need to flatter him excessively. The Prime Minister knows that Trump's commitments and words are basically worthless. He can – and often does – withdraw from them on a whim, Cunningham said.

The Guardian recalled the Prime Minister of Canada's announcement that he would pursue a policy of “variable geometry”, which involves creating different coalitions on various issues based on values ​​and interests. The newspaper notes that this flexible, ad hoc way of forming alliances stands in stark contrast to the concrete certainties of the post-war international order that Carney has long advocated. (PAP)

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