World Economic Forum annual meeting opens in Davos

The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) opened on Monday in the Swiss Alpine town of Davos, calling for constructive dialogue in a complex global landscape.

Under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue," the five-day event has drawn nearly 3,000 leaders and experts worldwide to discuss five pressing global challenges, including enhancing cooperation, unlocking new sources of growth and deploying innovation at scale and responsibly.

Mirek Dusek, managing director of the WEF, emphasized that in a world marked by intensifying geopolitical tensions, fragmentation and rapid technological advancements, the meeting remains an inclusive platform for bridging differences through dialogue.

"This place has always been very important for dialogue, and so that's what we are building on. But we are also sending a message that, of course, now we are in a much more competitive, contested world, and that in this kind of environment, having dialogue and engagement is even more important," said Dusek.

A series of publications released by the WEF in the lead-up to the meeting indicated rising risks and downward pressure on the global economy in an increasingly contested and fragmented world.

The latest Chief Economists' Outlook pointed out that while the global economic outlook has improved modestly, uncertainty remains. Factors such as shifting asset valuations, rising debt, geoeconomic realignment and the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence are expected to continue impacting the world economy.

The Chief Economists' Outlook summarizes the emerging contours of the current economic environment. The quarterly report incorporates the latest policy research and the results of a Forum survey with leading chief economists from both the public and private sectors.

World Economic Forum annual meeting opens in Davos

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday that the European Union stands in full solidarity with Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark, stressing that their sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable.

In a special address at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, von der Leyen said the EU is preparing an Arctic security support package built on five pillars, including stepped-up investment in Greenland's economy and infrastructure and increased defense spending on European icebreaker capability.

Full solidarity with Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark is the first principle, and the sovereignty and integrity of their territory is non-negotiable, she noted.

Von der Leyen said the EU also plans to channel a major European investment push into Greenland to support the local economy and infrastructure, while using the bloc's defense spending increase to bolster European icebreaker capability and other equipment seen as vital to Arctic security.

She said Europe must adjust to a "new security architecture and realities" and is preparing its own security strategy, including an upgraded Arctic strategy, to be published later this year.

"And at the heart of this will be the fundamental principle: It is for sovereign people to decide their own future," she said.

Sovereignty, integrity of Greenland, Denmark's territory "non-negotiable": Ursula von der Leyen