In Focus by The Hindu What Canada PM Mark Carney said: Official obituary of the rules-based global order?
Jan 22, 2026
Suhasini Haider, the Diplomatic Affairs Editor at The Hindu, dives deep into Canadian PM Mark Carney's bold rhetoric at Davos, where he declared the demise of the rules-based global order. She discusses how Carney's acknowledgment of this selective application has resonated globally and questions its implications for countries like India. Haider examines sovereignty's new definition as resilience against big powers, the role of middle nations, and the potential shifts in NATO dynamics. Her insights challenge listeners to rethink international relations in today’s geopolitical landscape.
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Rules-Based Order Is A "Rupture"
- Mark Carney declared the pretence of a rules-based international order is over and called this a "rupture."
- He argued great powers now weaponize economic integration, making sovereignty about withstanding pressure.
Middle Powers Must Aim Higher
- Carney framed a new role for middle powers: resist subordination rather than merely adapt.
- He urged middle powers to pursue something more ambitious than succumbing to great-power pressure.
Selective Application Of Rules Recognised
- Carney acknowledged the rules-based order was applied selectively and benefited the West when convenient.
- Suhasini Haider notes this admission highlights Western complicity in coercive interventions.
