The rise of the middle powers

This episode of The Foreign Desk explores the rising influence of middle powers in global geopolitics, challenging the traditional dominance of superpowers like the United States and China. Centered on a pivotal speech by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, the episode argues that countries such as Canada, the European Union, Australia, South Korea, and even Ukraine are redefining international relations through agile, values-based coalitions rather than rigid alignment with great powers. Carney’s call for 'variable geometry' alliances—where nations collaborate on specific issues without requiring full ideological unity—emerges as a key model. The discussion highlights real-world examples: Canada’s defense and trade partnerships with Australia and Nordic nations, the EU’s efforts to strengthen autonomy amid U.S. unpredictability, South Korea’s booming defense exports to Poland, and Ukraine’s transformation into a resilient, self-reliant actor despite immense pressure. Ukrainian journalist Olga Tokariuk underscores the power of civil society and national agency as core lessons for other middle powers. The episode concludes that the era of middle powers is not about replacing superpowers but about building a more interconnected, adaptive, and resilient global order.