Synopsis
At Davos, WEF President Borge Brende indicated that the world is at a critical juncture, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in the face of geopolitical challenges. He highlighted that 2025 will be a pivotal year and stressed the need for collaboration across various sectors to tackle shared issues.Key Takeaways
- The world is at a critical inflection point.
- 2025 is anticipated to be a year of enormous consequence.
- New pathways for global cooperation are essential.
- Constructive optimism is needed to address shared challenges.
- Europe must adapt to geostrategic competition.
Davos, Jan 22 (NationPress) The globe finds itself at a pivotal crossroads, with 2025 set to be a year of substantial significance, according to Borge Brende, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF). He emphasized the necessity for new avenues of collaboration amidst escalating geopolitical uncertainties.
Brende addressed a congregation of world leaders, describing the current climate as “one of the most unpredictable geopolitical and geoeconomic eras in decades.” He noted that the longstanding international structure established over the past thirty years is fading.
“We must discover more efficient methods of collaboration. This is the only viable path forward,” he asserted.
Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, advocated for ‘constructive optimism’, calling on participants from all sectors—government, commerce, civil society, and academia—to join forces in addressing mutual challenges.
“The shift from the Industrial to the Intelligent Age is happening at an unprecedented speed, bringing along extraordinary threats for humanity as we endeavor to prepare for its intricacies,” he remarked.
“However, it also presents remarkable chances to overcome our existing obstacles and ignite a new renaissance characterized by improvements in knowledge, health, culture, and societal well-being,” Schwab added.
In her remarks about the evolving global order, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, shared Europe’s strategy to adapt to a new phase of ‘intense geostrategic rivalry’ by boosting its competitiveness, reinforcing global partnerships, and committing to sustainable growth.
“To ensure our advancement in the forthcoming quarter-century, Europe needs to change gears,” she stated. “We must not take anything for granted. We should seek new opportunities wherever they materialize. This is the moment to engage beyond traditional blocs and prohibitions. And Europe is prepared for transformation.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for renewed dedication to security and prosperity amid global challenges, highlighting that partnerships act as the “engine for successful economic development.”
He underscored plans to revise Germany's public debt regulations to bolster domestic growth and stressed the necessity for Europe to enhance its defense capabilities and industrial foundation.
As the conflict in Ukraine approaches its third year, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, urged Europe to affirm its role as a dominant global force.
“Europe must strive to secure its position in priorities, alliances, and technological advancements,” Zelenskyy declared. “We require a unified European security and defense strategy, and all European nations must be ready to invest adequately in security.”
