In February 2026, at the Munich Security Conference, world leaders dropped the usual diplomatic language. Germany’s chancellor said the global order “no longer exists”. France warned Europe must be ready for war. US secretary of state Marco Rubio declared that “the old world is gone”. At Davos, Canada’s prime minister spoke of a “rupture” in the liberal democratic system and echoed an ancient warning: the strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must.
These were not offhand remarks. They reflected a growing belief that the post-1945 system, built on US leadership, open markets and shared rules, is breaking down. Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds on. Trade disputes are hardening into economic blocs. Technology and finance are being used as weapons. Alliances look more transactional, less rooted in shared values.
