Mexican Leaders Applaud Canadian Prime Minister's Davos Address
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and a federal deputy have publicly praised Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This endorsement comes amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between North American neighbors and the United States under President Donald Trump's second administration.
Sheinbaum's Public Endorsement
During a Wednesday morning press conference, President Sheinbaum expressed strong support for Carney's address, stating through Mexico News Daily that it was "very good" and "very much in tune with the current times." She specifically addressed her audience with the remark, "I don't know if you heard it," emphasizing the speech's relevance to contemporary geopolitical challenges.
Opposition Deputy Echoes Praise
Juan Ignacio Zavala Gutiérrez, a deputy from Mexico's opposition Citizen's Movement party, told CBC News that he found Carney's speech "very powerful, clear and intelligent." He highlighted the strategic importance of Carney's message about forming alliances against hegemonic powers, noting that bilateral negotiations alone would disadvantage smaller nations against larger powers like the United States.
"What Carney is saying is that if we all negotiate bilaterally alone with the hegemonic powers, we will always lose precisely because of the size of those countries," Zavala Gutiérrez explained. "But if we achieve these strategic alliances by issue, I believe we can build a much fairer and more equitable world order."
Carney's Critique of International Order
In his Davos address, Carney argued that countries like Canada have historically prospered under what he called "the rules-based international order," but acknowledged this system had flaws. He noted that trade rules were often enforced asymmetrically and international law applied with varying rigor depending on the parties involved.
The Canadian prime minister declared that "this bargain no longer works" and described the current global situation as "a rupture, not a transition," signaling a fundamental shift in international relations that requires new approaches to diplomacy and cooperation.
Trump's Response and North American Tensions
The praise from Mexican leaders comes against a backdrop of strained relations between both Canada and Mexico with the United States since President Trump began his second term. Trump responded directly to Carney's speech the following day, telling the World Economic Forum audience that "Canada lives because of the United States" and suggesting Canadians should be more grateful for American protection and support.
"They should be grateful to us, Canada — but they're not," Trump stated, specifically addressing Carney. "Canada gets a lot of freebies from us, by the way." He referenced the U.S. plan to build a missile defense system called the Golden Dome that would also protect Canada as an example of American generosity.
Strengthening Canada-Mexico Relations
In another demonstration of growing ties between the two nations, Governor General Mary Simon met with President Sheinbaum earlier in the week. Sheinbaum praised Simon as a "fighter for the defense of Indigenous peoples and reconciliation" in a social media post, noting they discussed "matters of common interest such as the environment and the good relationship between our nations."
This diplomatic exchange precedes a Canadian trade mission to Mexico scheduled for mid-February, part of Carney's broader strategy to deepen economic and political ties with Mexico. Additionally, negotiations for the Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade agreement (CUSMA) are set to take place this year, adding further significance to the strengthening relationship between Ottawa and Mexico City.
The mutual appreciation expressed by Mexican leaders for Carney's Davos speech underscores a shared perspective on navigating the changing global landscape and suggests potential for closer cooperation between Canada and Mexico as both countries face similar challenges in their relationships with the United States.
