Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has warned that the global rules-based order is undergoing a “rupture, not a transition,” as he urged so-called middle powers to unite in response to growing geopolitical pressure from the United States.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, Carney delivered a stark assessment of the international system, drawing sustained applause from executives and political leaders gathered ahead of US President Donald Trump’s arrival later this week.

While Carney did not mention Trump by name, his comments came days after the US president threatened new tariffs against European allies and intensified pressure on Denmark over Greenland. The White House has refused to rule out the use of force to take control of the strategically important Arctic island.

Carney argued that long-standing assumptions underpinning global security and prosperity were no longer reliable, pointing to the decline of multilateral institutions such as the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. He said the era of multilateralism was fading and that countries could no longer rely on integration alone to protect their interests.

“We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition,” Carney said, adding that nations must accept the reality of a world where traditional alliances and rules offer diminishing protection.

The Canadian leader called on “middle powers” — countries that are neither superpowers nor small states — to work together more closely. “If you are not at the table, you are on the menu,” he warned, arguing that collective action was essential to resist coercion by larger powers.

His remarks come amid rising tensions between Washington and its allies. Trump has repeatedly suggested Canada should become the “51st state,” triggering consumer boycotts of US goods in Canada and a sharp decline in Canadian travel to the US. European capitals are also scrambling to respond to Trump’s tariff threats and demands over Greenland.

Carney’s intervention was notable for its direct tone. He said countries could no longer “live within the lie” that integration always delivers mutual benefit, warning that dependence could become a source of vulnerability.

The speech also reflected Canada’s efforts to diversify its global relationships. Carney travelled to Beijing last week for a landmark meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, the first in nearly a decade, as Ottawa seeks to reduce its reliance on US trade.

While Carney acknowledged that nostalgia for the old order was not a strategy, he said the current fracture could create space for a fairer and more resilient global system — provided countries act together.