This year’s edition of the World Economic Forum exposes the division between the first protectionist measures of Donald Trump’s government and the resistance, mainly from the European Union, to maintaining multilateralism. With a Brazilian delegation empty, the event, which brings together political leaders, businesspeople and academics from across the planet, began on Monday (20), the same day as Trump’s inauguration, and runs until Friday (24) in Davos, in the Alps Swiss…
The new North American president will speak this Thursday (23), via videoconference. This is the most anticipated point of the 2025 edition of the forum. The last time Trump participated in the World Economic Forum was in the 2020 edition, shortly before the start of the covid-19 pandemic.
With around 60 heads of state, 130 government representatives and 1,600 executives from 900 companies, the World Economic Forum will promote around 300 panels. The topics of the debates will focus on five axes: tackling climate change, regulating artificial intelligence (mainly in companies), alternative sources of economic growth, developing human capital and rebuilding global trust.
Almost all themes are opposed to the new North American government. In the first three days of his term, Trump announced the withdrawal of the United States from Paris Agreementsigned a measure to deregulate artificial intelligence and expanded the isolation of the largest economy on the planet, by signing decrees to deport immigrants and to remove the right to North American citizenship from children of immigrants born in the country.
Divergences
Trump’s decisions provoke disagreements at the World Economic Forum. In a speech this Wednesday (22), the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Antônio Guterres, said that the climate crisis and artificial intelligence represent new threats that can “destabilize life” and require attention on a global scale.
Regarding global warming, the UN Secretary General defended the benefits of renewable energy sources and stated that “dependence on fossil fuels is a monster that spares no one”. The statements are in line with Trump, who promised, in his inauguration speech, to “dig and dig” more oil wells to develop the North American industry.
Even among businesspeople, Trump’s first decisions expose differences. Representatives of large North American companies, such as Coca-Cola, Bank of America and Occidental Petroleum, praised the new president’s first measures, especially the tax cuts for companies.
On the other hand, the president of Banco Santander, Spanish Ana Botín, expressed concern about Trump’s threats to increase commercial tariffs. In a speech on Tuesday (21), she said that the European Union needs to prepare for the wave of North American protectionism. “We need to do more and faster and, for the first time, be ahead of the United States,” declared Botín.
Brazil
The Brazilian delegation at the World Economic Forum initially expected the presence of the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, and the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, but only Silveira went to Davos.
Among political figures, the Brazilian delegation was headed by the governor of Pará, Helder Barbalho, and the president of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), Luís Roberto Barroso. The governor of Pará intends to promote the 30th UN Conference on Climate Change (COP 30), to be held in Belém in November.
Article amended at 6:49 pm to correct information about the presence of minister Alexandre SIlveira at the World Economic Forum.
