Overview
- The 56th World Economic Forum ended January 23 after convening roughly 3,000 leaders from about 130 countries, with interim co-chairs Larry Fink and André Hoffmann presiding following Klaus Schwab’s departure.
- Sharp U.S.–Europe friction defined the week as President Donald Trump pressed tariff threats, attacked NATO partners, and revived claims on Greenland, drawing rebuttals from European leaders including Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen.
- Artificial intelligence moved from rhetoric to operations through dedicated sessions such as Imagination in Action, with voices like Jensen Huang and Satya Nadella emphasizing deployment, workforce adaptation, and closing the technology divide.
- Climate action drew far less emphasis than in past years, with analysts warning that the muted agenda signals backsliding even as climate risks intensify and political pressures make open discussion harder.
- Post‑Davos analysis highlighted weakening multilateral norms and debates over the forum’s relevance, while delegates pointed to near‑term diplomacy including an EU–India trade deal push slated for January 27 in New Delhi.