Carney evoked the landmark 1978 essay “The Power of the Powerless“ by former Czech freedom fighter Václav Havel, who eventually led the Velvet Revolution that led to free elections in his country in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin Wall toppled the Soviet Union. Havel later received a hero’s welcome in Canada in 1999.

Canadian prime minister gives damning assessment of US president’s impact on global politics at World Economic Forum

Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a frank assessment of how he views the world in a provocative speech in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, where he said the longstanding U.S.-led, rules-based international order is over and middle powers like Canada must pivot to avoid falling prey to further "coercion" from powerful actors.

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Canada’s prime minister calls on middle powers to act as counterweight to US and China in remarkable Davos speech

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a stark warning about Canada's unwavering support for Greenland at the World Economic Forum amid Trump's threats

Recent events have shown the “rules-based international order” is effectively dead, Carney said, which means Canada and other countries have no choice but to create new alliances to oppose pressure tactics and intimidation by the world’s great powers. His speech didn’t mention United States President Donald Trump by name.

The Canadian leader warned that middle powers need to stand together or they’ll find themselves “on the menu.”

Read the full text of Prime Minister Mark Carney's speech about a shakeup of the global order and role of middle powers at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.