As 2026 begins, the world stage is reeling from a succession of staggering political theatrics: the U.S. brazenly seized Venezuelan President Maduro and threatened to annex Greenland, leaving the international community in collective shock. Amidst this volatile climate, two figures have stepped into the spotlight with starkly contrasting demeanors: one is U.S. President Donald Trump, and the other is Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

During a stern address delivered at Davos on January 20 (local time), Prime Minister Mark Carney received a rare collective standing ovation from an audience of global political and business leaders. Casting aside the usual diplomatic boilerplate, this clear-sighted statesman laid bare the harsh realities of today’s world order: “We live in an era of great power rivalry, that the rules-based order is fading, that the strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must.”

Carney’s outcry was far from a shot in the dark. For some time, the U.S. has weaponized tariffs against Canada’s core industries, from automotive to steel. Trump’s rhetoric has since spiraled from protectionist to expansionist, brazenly suggesting Canada’s absorption as the “51st state.” Now, he casts a predatory eye on Greenland, punctuated by a provocative “New U.S. Map” that redraws borders to engulf Canada, Greenland, and Venezuela. With polls revealing that nearly 70% of Canadians distrust Trump and a third fear direct American intervention, Carney’s Davos address sent a visceral clarion call: “The middle powers must act together, because if we're not at the table, we're on the menu.”

What is truly commendable is that, while many nations capitulate under the weight of hegemony, Carney has led Canada to proactively break its singular dependence on the U.S., championing a diversified diplomacy: signing an economic and trade cooperation roadmap with China to solidify the foundations of mutual benefit; forging a strategic partnership with Qatar to deepen regional consensus; and accelerating free trade negotiations with India and ASEAN to expand the horizons of cooperation. Through the practice of “Strategic Autonomy,” Carney has set a gold standard for how independent nations can hold their ground and prosper amid great-power rivalries. His actions speak far louder than any hollow slogans of peace.

While Carney was rallying the world to defend international fairness, a surreal drama unfolded in Washington. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado—the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate—presented her medal to Donald Trump during a White House visit, treating it as a “tribute of loyalty” to curry favor with the powerful. Ignoring the Nobel Committee’s explicit mandate that the prize cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred, her move was no more than a calculated play for political patronage. Her remarks upon leaving the White House—claiming the gesture recognized Trump’s “unique commitment with our freedom”—only served to deepen public skepticism regarding the award’s integrity. It is a staggering irony, as Trump remains the primary architect of the region’s turmoil: the man who orchestrated the covert military assault on Venezuela and the forced seizure of its leader.

Even more ironically, this politician, whose hands are stained with turmoil and hegemonic ambition, has long coveted the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump boasts of having “ended eight wars,” repackaging aggression and domination as so-called peacemaking achievements, while harboring resentment for not receiving the prize and even accusing Norway of “insulting the United States.” Now, with a “second-hand” Peace Prize handed to him by another, the world witnesses a carefully staged act of political theater—satisfying some of Trump’s craving for recognition while exposing how the award itself can be twisted in the game of power.

History shows that the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize has often been manipulated by political forces, frequently bestowed upon controversial figures in ways that contradict the very essence of peace, repeatedly casting doubt on the award’s credibility. Whether Trump can finally realize his “Nobel dream” now rests with the Norwegian authorities. Yet, in the hearts of the people, the truest medal of peace is never a token from an institution; it belongs to the doers—those who cut through chaos with clarity, stand firm with responsibility, and defend justice through deeds. Compared to Trump, Carney is far more deserving of a true Peace Prize.

(Author: Dorje)