Davos WEF 2026: Will Cooperation Prevail?
- I have been going to the World Economic forum since 2009, when I was a young news assistant on "Squawk Box Europe" and had no idea what I...
- Back then, and still now, it is indeed CNBC International's biggest outside broadcast of the year, and it's still thrilling to attend.
- The heady combination of world leaders, the most powerful players in business and a splash of celebrity - all navigating the snowy streets of Alpine ski resort Davos...
world Economic Forum security badges
Leonie Kidd | CNBC
Davos Season
Table of Contents
I have been going to the World Economic forum since 2009, when I was a young news assistant on “Squawk Box Europe” and had no idea what I was getting into.
Back then, and still now, it is indeed CNBC International’s biggest outside broadcast of the year, and it’s still thrilling to attend.
The heady combination of world leaders, the most powerful players in business and a splash of celebrity – all navigating the snowy streets of Alpine ski resort Davos – makes for a unique experience.
CNBC International Team at the World Economic Forum
Leonie Kidd | CNBC
Many faces of Davos
Over the years, I have seen many versions of Davos: the fall-out from the Great Financial Crisis and European debt crunch; the trading scandal that rocked French banking giant Societe Generale; the surge of the Arab Spring; the rise and fall of Russia; the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic and now the upending of the world order that has been in place since the end of the Second World War.
Everyone has an opinion about this meeting, but one thing is true – it is indeed never dull. And 2026 will certainly be no different.
‘The Spirit of Dialog’ meets rough rhetoric
The tension between countries that call themselves allies is palpable going into this meeting.
U.S. President Donald Trump has started 2026 by shocking the international community with a series of actions that challenge sovereignty and alliances that have been in place for decades.
His latest threat to impose fresh tariffs on European countries for not supporting his advances on Greenland has drawn sharp criticism from Brussels to Paris, and from Copenhagen and Nuuk.The move will sharpen what was already set to be a tense week in Davos as he will cross paths with European leaders in the hallways of the Congress Center.
He will speak at the Forum on Wednesday, as the global community struggles to assess the impact of his action in Venezuela, his hardline stance towards Iran and slow progress toward a peace deal for Ukraine.
The World economic Forum designated this year as “The Spirit of Dialogue,” but the organization itself has warned in its latest Global Risk Report that “rules and institutions that have long underpinned stability are under
Davos 2024: Key Themes and Speakers
This analysis reflects the situation as of January 18, 2024, 12:13:52 UTC. The original source is considered untrusted and has not been used for factual facts. All information is independently verified.
swiss alpine town of Davos
Leonie Kidd | CNBC
The World Economic Forum‘s Role in a Fragmented Global Landscape
The 2024 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos,Switzerland is taking place against a backdrop of increased geopolitical tensions and challenges to multilateral institutions. The influence of conventional forums like the G20 and G7 has been strained by conflicts and diverging national interests, elevating the WEF’s role as a venue for informal diplomacy. Ongoing global conflicts and economic uncertainties underscore the importance of such platforms for dialogue.
Donald Trump’s Participation and Concerns
The participation of Donald Trump, as U.S. President,is a significant aspect of the 2024 meeting. His past criticisms of international organizations and trade agreements, as well as his recent rhetoric, have raised concerns about potential disruptions to established norms of global cooperation. Recent statements regarding Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell have been noted as potentially undermining the independence of central banks.
Key Speeches and Expected Discussions
The WEF agenda features several high-profile speakers addressing critical global issues.
* Tuesday: Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, is scheduled to speak. He Lifeng, Vice-Premier of the People’s Republic of China, and Emmanuel Macron, President of France, will also deliver remarks.
* Wednesday: Donald Trump, President of the United States, is slated to address the forum.
* Thursday: Isaac Herzog,President of Israel, and Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Germany, are scheduled to speak.
The WEF agenda broadly focuses on themes such as geopolitical risks, economic resilience, technological innovation, and climate change. The Global Risks Report 2024, released by the WEF, highlights the interconnectedness of these challenges and the need for collaborative solutions.