Ironies the West must confront The Statesman 03 Feb 2026

https://epaper.thestatesman.com/4113211/Bhubaneswar-The-Statesman/03rd-February-2026#page/7/2

Ironies the West must confront The Statesman 03 Feb 2026

          The speech by Mark Carney, the Canadian PM, received a standing ovation at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He mentioned, ‘great powers have begun using economic integration as weapons, tariffs as leverage, financial infrastructure as coercion, supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited.’ He went on to add, ‘A country that can’t feed itself, fuel itself or defend itself, has few options. When the rules no longer protect you, you must protect yourself.’ His classic sentence was, ‘If we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.’ This has always been the case with the Global South, though for Canada, possibly the first time.

          Though Carney never mentioned the US nor Trump, the implication was obvious. The speech drew Trump’s attention, resulting in him commenting in response, ‘Canada lives because of the US. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.’ Trump, in a further display of anger, withdrew his invitation for Canada to join his almost defunct Board of Peace.

          Canada as also Europe had always cozied upto the US, rarely questioning their actions while supporting them in their misadventures, including overthrowing regimes they disliked or acted against their interests. This gave these nations the power to threaten others.

Canada’s Trudeau accused India on the supposed killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, solely because he had the silent backing of the US. He continued to support anti-India Khalistan groups and their referendums aware that Washington stood with him. However, when the Trump administration supported a similar move for Alberta, Canada termed it as treason. Hypocrisy at its best.

Trump is different. For him friends, challengers or allies, all have exploited the US and hence must pay. What is worse is that those who are dependent on the US economically or for security, face the brunt. All previous US governments prioritized their allies over themselves and this spoilt them. NATO members preferred development over defence, aware that they were protected by Washington. Trump changed all that. Europe is now enhancing its defence budget.

          Why did Carney suddenly start going against what the west had supported for decades. The reason is Trump’s MAGA (Make America Great Again), where he believes that tariffs are the solution to reducing trade imbalances. He is also demanding territories essential for US security, irrespective of whom they belong to. Trump has claimed that the US has been exploited by ‘cheaters’ and ‘pillaged’ by foreigners. He has also used tariffs as a weapon to browbeat nations into submission.

          As long as the US was targeting weaker and smaller nations, Canada and the west went along. Decades of sanctions against Cuba, Iran and Venezuela, the attack on Caracas and arrest of Maduro, military intervention in Iraq and Libya and the 1999 bombing of Kosovo, all done largely without UN approval, was not only accepted by the west but some nations even joined the US in these actions.

          The historical colluding of the west and the US was evident in leaked text messages between Presidents Trump and Macron of France. In that Macron made clear that France in specific and the West, in general, supported Trump’s actions against Syria and Iran but not his demand for Greenland. Selective as long as it does not affect Europe, but wrong as soon as it affects them. Trump released it to embarrass Macron but the message displayed Europe’s mindset.

          Canada has been under Trump’s gaze for some time. He has termed it as the US’s fifty first state, Carney as Governor as also imposed tariffs on it, largely because Canada was the conduit for smuggling of precursor chemicals from China, which are used to manufacture illicit drugs like fentanyl. In addition, Canada is dependent on the US for its national security and economy. Over 75% of Canadian trade is with the US.

Canada had ordered 88 F35 aircraft in 2022, the price of which rose by USD 8 billion in the past about four years, forcing Carney to have a rethink. The warning from the US on cancelling or reducing the order was quick and clear. The US ambassador to Ottawa warned that the US would rethink on NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command) as also US military aircraft would fly deep into Canadian airspace. The pretext was that other aircraft would not be interoperable with the F35s. This is domination.  

Possibly after inking trade agreements with China (not a trade deal), hoping to reduce dependency on the US, Carney believed it was time to show Trump his place in Davos. Of course, the counter flowed. Trump threatened Canada with 100% tariffs by mentioning, ‘If Governor Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop-Off Port’ for China to send goods and products into the US, he is sorely mistaken.’   

Carney’s comments were true, though unexpected, as the west has always stood by the US. It was only after they were treated at power with adversaries that a western leader had the courage to challenge them. The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, backed Carney. He mentioned, ‘This new world of great powers is being built on power, on strength and when it comes to it, on force. It is not a cozy place.’ He added, ‘We must recognize the value of our (middle) power.’ His implication was lack of unity within Europe to face future challenges. 

Carney and Merz may have uttered strong words largely in frustration. The fact remains that unless nations possess military capabilities to defend themselves and stop reliance on others, they will continue to be ridiculed. The reality of why the US bullies Europe was laid bare by Mark Rutte, the NATO Secretary General, who mentioned, ‘If anyone thinks that the EU, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the US — keep on dreaming. You can’t.’ Dependence will be exploited and there is little that Europe can do.    

A world order dominated by the strong against the weak is nothing new. Cuba and Iran have been under western sanctions for decades and no one has ever been concerned. Governments have been overthrown by the US, and the west has either maintained silence or joined in the action. Now that they are being challenged, Europe and Canada claim the world order is changing. Hypocrisy.

Carney and Merz must know that the global south has faced this for years and not one western nation has ever bothered.