Davos 2026: The Trump Effect

Switzerland is putting the final touches on preparations for the 56th session of the World Economic Forum, scheduled to take place from January 19-23 in the mountain resort of Davos.

The annual gathering of global political and business leaders convenes this year under unprecedented circumstances, as the foundational ideas of globalization promoted by the WEF itself have lost their meaning amidst the collapse of the old international order.

Against this backdrop of geopolitical transformation, the event promises to be one of the most consequential in its history, with the very purpose and direction of global cooperation hanging in the balance.

The upcoming 56th session represents a watershed moment for the World Economic Forum, as it convenes during what analysts describe as a fundamental breakdown of the previous system of international relations.

For decades, the WEF has served as the premier platform for promoting interconnected markets and open trade. However, the birth of a new world order has rendered many of these long-held assumptions obsolete.

Key elements defining this year's agenda include:

• The collapse of established international frameworks
• Emergence of new geopolitical power structures
• Reassessment of global economic interdependence
• Shifting priorities among world leaders

Switzerland, as the host nation, finds itself at the center of this diplomatic storm, welcoming representatives from the world's most powerful nations to a venue that has traditionally symbolized international cooperation.

President Donald Trump will arrive in Davos commanding the largest American delegation ever assembled for a World Economic Forum, signaling the administration's determination to assert its vision on the global stage.

The President is positioned to become the central protagonist of the entire event, with virtually all major discussions ultimately directing their attention toward Washington.

Critical issues awaiting Trump's attention include:

• The ongoing Ukraine security crisis
• Disruptions to free trade flows
• Escalating tariff conflicts
• Broader geopolitical stability concerns

The sheer size of the American delegation underscores the importance the administration places on this platform, effectively transforming what was once a forum for multilateral dialogue into a stage for American leadership.

The very concept of globalization—the WEF's ideological cornerstone—faces its greatest challenge as tariff wars fracture the architecture of free trade that has defined the post-war era.

What began as targeted trade disputes has evolved into a comprehensive reassessment of international economic relationships, with the system of open markets that Davos championed for decades now under direct assault.

Key questions of security and development will be addressed directly to the American president.

The shift represents more than mere policy disagreements; it signals a potential paradigm shift in how nations approach economic cooperation, with bilateral negotiations replacing multilateral frameworks.

Business leaders attending the forum must now navigate an environment where the rules of international commerce are being rewritten in real-time.

Beyond economic concerns, the Ukraine conflict stands as the most pressing security challenge that will demand direct engagement from forum participants.

The convergence of military tensions and economic fragmentation creates a complex diplomatic environment where traditional solutions may no longer apply.

Attendees will grapple with:

• Regional security guarantees
• Energy supply disruptions
• Sanctions regime effectiveness
• Post-conflict reconstruction planning

The forum's location in Switzerland, a nation historically committed to neutrality, provides a neutral backdrop for what promises to be intense negotiations over the future of European security architecture.

The 56th World Economic Forum in Davos will likely be remembered as the moment when the post-Cold War consensus on globalization definitively gave way to a new era of great power competition.

As President Trump asserts American priorities, the forum serves as both a reflection and a catalyst of the transformation occurring in international relations.

The decisions and rhetoric emerging from this year's gathering will provide crucial indicators of how global governance might evolve in the coming years.

For a world accustomed to predictable international frameworks, Davos 2026 represents a pivot point where the old rules no longer apply, and new ones are still being written.