The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), where world political and business leaders gather to discuss global issues, kicked off on the 19th in the Swiss resort town of Davos. Marking its 56th year, this year's meeting put forward the theme of "the spirit of dialogue."
But the atmosphere around the venue is tense, contrary to the theme. U.S. President Donald Trump announced additional tariff impositions on eight European countries two days before the opening, pushing trade tensions between the United States and Europe to a peak. There is a diagnosis that the postwar liberal order, the so‑called "Atlantic alliance," which has supported global peace and prosperity for the past 80 years, is being shaken to its roots.
This year's meeting is overwhelming from the size of attendance alone. About 3,000 people, including politicians, business leaders, and heads of international organizations from more than 130 countries, gathered. According to AP, there are as many as 65 head‑of‑state‑level figures, including the leaders of six of the Group of Seven nations. President Trump visited Davos in person for the first time in six years since 2020.
The United States attended with its largest‑ever delegation, including not only the president but also the Ministers of State, Treasury, Commerce, and Energy. In particular, The New York Times (NYT) reported that including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in the delegation underscored the policy resolve the United States aims to advance.
On the 21st, President Trump is expected to use a special address to touch on strengthening U.S. dominance in energy and artificial intelligence (AI), a path to ending the war in Ukraine, and the possibility of military intervention in Venezuela. In particular, the United States' recently overt push to secure sovereignty over Greenland has emerged as the forum's hottest topic.
European leaders plan to seek a breakthrough by meeting President Trump face to face. But approaches diverge within Europe. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, "We know that President Trump keeps repeating tariff threats," indicating a stance to try persuasion through dialogue first. In contrast, French President Emmanuel Macron proposed triggering the Anti‑Coercion Instrument (ACI), signaling a tough retaliation. The Danish government, protesting a violation of sovereignty, decided not to send a delegation. The EU plans to hold a separate summit on the 22nd, the day after President Trump's speech, to finalize a joint response.
Executives from U.S. tech corporations and energy corporations are also attending in force, accelerating a shift to a "U.S.‑centric economic order." According to Reuters, corporations leading the global AI industry, including Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic, joined the delegation. In addition, chief executive officers (CEOs) of major oil corporations such as ExxonMobil and Shell—who had kept their distance from Davos while bristling at the climate agenda—also made the list. This directly clashes with the green energy transition line the WEF has painstakingly promoted.
Geopolitical crises are also a key agenda item at this Davos meeting. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is trying to persuade allies to secure favorable terms in the stalled talks to end the war. From the Russian side, envoy Kirill Dmitriev is also set to attend and reportedly plans an informal contact with the U.S. delegation.
The turbulent situation in the Middle East is also expected to be discussed indirectly at this forum. The WEF canceled an invitation to Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, citing the bloody suppression of protests. In Iran, anti‑government protests are intensifying due to a currency collapse and crushing inflation. Former France President François Hollande said ahead of the forum that "if Iran becomes a democratic country, it would bring a tremendous change to regional stability."
Experts assessed that this Davos forum will be a historic watershed that determines whether the postwar order of the past 80 years survives or the world enters a new era of every country for itself. Faisal Islam, the BBC economics editor, said, "Global turmoil is engulfing this Davos forum."
Perceptions of the Davos forum itself are no longer as warm as they once were. Founded in 1971 by former chairman Klaus Schwab, the organization grew while championing "stakeholder capitalism." It is the philosophy that not only shareholder profits but also the interests of workers and society as a whole must be considered. In the early 2000s, it served as the birthplace for efforts such as the launch of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) to expand child vaccine access and the movement to eradicate poverty.
But the organization's authority has been badly damaged as Schwab stepped down in disgrace recently amid allegations including a sex scandal. Criticism of "Davos men," wealthy elites who gather only to hold ineffectual talkfests, remains strong.
Miriam Hochstetmann, head of the youth wing of the Swiss Social Democratic Party, said in an AP interview, "It is worrying to see politicians flattering warmongers and those who profit from them," adding, "The WEF never brings peace and only amplifies conflict."