The World Economic Forum (The Davos Summit), held on 19-23 January 2026 with the theme “Dialogue Spirit”, is a platform that showcases the pluripolar aspect of the current international system. [i]The pluripolarity that arose with the corrosion of post-Cold War American unipolar hegemony brings cooperation alongside competition among the United States of America (USA), China, the European Union (EU), and other rising powers. In this context, Davos 2026 can be seen as a concrete reflection of the restructuring of the global power balance when read through three prominent actors: President of the USA Donald Trump, President of France Emmanuel Macron, and the Vice Premier of China He Lifeng. Trump’s insistence on Greenland, Macron’s statements, and He Lifeng’s speech represent American revisionism, Europe’s search for strategic autonomy, and China’s economic multipolarity, respectively.
Pluripolarity, being inspired by classical realist approaches, argues that the international system has become more complex and unpredictable with the increase of power centers. Unlike Kenneth Waltz’s structural realism, present pluripolarity is shaped by mutual economic dependence, technology competition, and local alliances. Davos 2026 is the arena where this crack is most clearly seen. These can be listed as: Fracturing of the transatlantic alliance, the Arctic region becoming a strategic priority, and a search for dialogue under the shadow of trade wars.[ii]
Trump raising the Greenland matter again in his Davos speech showcased the limits of American power and revisionist tendencies in the pluripolar world. Trump demanded the USA’s property, rights, and possession over Greenland by stating its necessity for security. He explained that, even though they will not use military force, they will seek superiority over China and Russia in the Arctic through projects such as the “Golden Dome” defense system. This statement, an extension of the 2019 purchase attempt, reflects competition over resources and routes that became available as Arctic ice melted.[iii] Through a pluripolar lens, Trump’s insistence on Greenland is a local reflection of the USA’s efforts to preserve its hegemonic position. His threats of tariffs against North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies (especially Denmark) are used as a tool to pressure the inter-alliance power asymmetry. The reaction of Europe and China’s silent observations showcase that the USA no longer has absolute dominance.[iv]
Macron’s Davos speech works as a manifesto that clarifies Europe’s position in the pluripolar world. Macron emphasizes that they prefer the rule of law and respect, noting that the world is headed towards rulelessness. These statements are directed towards Trump’s tariff threats and Greenland demands. Macron defends multilateralism by pointing out that trade wars produce mutual lose-lose scenarios and criticizes the USA’s efforts to dominate Europe.[v] From a pluripolar perspective, Macron’s statements reflect Europe’s attempt at becoming the third pole. Strategic autonomy against the weakening of the transatlantic alliance is the EU’s strategy to become independent in defense, technology, and trade. While Macron’s remark that “Europe is predictable and respects the rule of law” conveys a message of stability to investors, it also leaves the door open to cooperation with China. Furthermore, Macron’s aviator glasses, his body language, and the symbolic elements in his statements reinforce Europe’s self-confidence and stance against Trump. In the pluripolar system, Europe seeks to serve as a balancing force between the USA and China, but economic dependencies limit its autonomy
He Lifeng’s speech at Davos reinforces China’s position as the rising pole in the pluripolar world. He underscores that tariffs and trade wars have no winners by marking that he is a determined defender of free trade. He explains that China does not chase a trade surplus and that it prioritizes internal demand in 2026. This statement is an indirect response to the USA’s tariffs, and repeats China’s claims of becoming the “world’s market.”[vi] Through a pluripolar lens, this silent yet effective participation in Davos reflects China’s open-channel policy for dialogue.
Davos 2026 exhibited the conflict and cooperation dynamics of the three main poles (the USA, Europe, and China) of the pluripolar world. Trump’s revisionist moves represent the USA’s hegemonic recession, Macron’s criticisms show Europe’s search for autonomy, and He’s remarks underscore China’s economic rise. Arctic competition solidified the strategic priorities of these poles. The rising tensions at Davos emphasize the necessity for cooperation in a system where power dynamics are no longer zero-sum. NATO’s future, trade rules, and tech standards need a new balance between these poles.
The 2026 Davos Summit is a milestone that confirms that the pluripolar international system is in the ripening phase. Trump’s Greenland policy, Macron’s statements, and China’s participation represent, respectively, American power’s search for geographical expansion, Europe’s efforts to become a normative power, and China’s economic rise. The interactions between these three actors show that global governance is no longer determined by a single hegemon. With the Arctic becoming more strategic in the future, the pluripolar rivalry will intensify. It is of utmost importance that communication channels remain open during this process to prevent conflict. In this regard:
- NATO being reformed and joint security mechanisms being established in the Arctic,
- New multilateral agreements to prevent trade wars,
- Cooperation platforms being established in the tech and energy fields have the potential to prevent a possible conflict.
In conclusion, while International Relations is marked by uncertainty, it also offers opportunities. New global challenges (climate change, AI, pandemic) come with risks. However, these problems can be solved with the coordination of the poles. Davos 2026 marked the difficulty of this coordination as much as its necessity. The international community giving up hegemonic nostalgia, accepting the pluripolar reality, and building a joint governance structure will be of the utmost importance. Otherwise, rivalry can turn into conflict, and global stability can be harmed permanently.
[i] “World Economic Forum Annual Meeting”, WeForum, https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/, (Day Accessed: 21.01.2026).
[ii] “Davos 2026: the last-chance saloon to save the old world order?”, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/business/ng-interactive/2026/jan/18/davos-2026-donald-trump-us-wef-world-economic-forum, (Day Accessed: 21.01.2026).
[iii] “Trump drops tariff threat, says he won’t take Greenland by force”, Aljazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/21/trump-nixes-european-tariff-threats-over-greenland-after-nato-chief-talks, (Day Accessed: 21.01.2026).
[iv] “Trump’s Greenland offramp”, The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/01/21/greenland-trump-tariffs-davos-nato/, (Day Accessed: 21.01.2026).
[v] “Macron tells Davos of a ‘shift towards a world without rules’”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/macron-tells-davos-shift-towards-world-without-rules-2026-01-20/, (Day Accessed: 21.01.2026).
[vi] “Davos 2026: Special address by He Lifeng, Vice-Premier of the People’s Republic of China”, WeForum, https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/davos-2026-special-address-he-lifeng/, (Day Accessed: 21.01.2026).
