Reference News Network, January 25 report: The Spanish newspaper "El País" website published an article titled "The Davos Forum Reveals the Decline of U.S. International Status" on January 23. The author is Andrea Risi. The following is an excerpt:
The performance of the United States at the World Economic Forum 2026 meeting clearly shows a trend of its declining international status. The policies of the Trump administration are continuously alienating traditional allies, gaining only support from some marginal forces, and creating space for China's expanding international influence.
A scene at the Davos Forum was highly symbolic. When Trump was selling a new international diplomatic plan to global political and business elites, he was accompanied by about twenty country leaders, but none of them were core U.S. allies or representatives of major economies. This scene serves as a vivid commentary on the decline of U.S. international status during the Davos Forum, and marks that the United States is on a path of geopolitical self-destruction, destroying its own alliance network while also causing dissatisfaction among countries due to arbitrary bullying and humiliation.
Leaders of America's traditional allies have clearly expressed strong opposition to U.S. policies. Although European countries have not yet formed a unified front against "Trumpism," the threat to Greenland has prompted clear resistance from European countries. Combined with market reactions and the resistance of some factions within the Republican Party, Trump eventually abandoned the idea of seizing Greenland by force and withdrew the threat of imposing additional tariffs on European countries. It is currently unclear what his subsequent actions will be, but the policy shift of the United States at this Davos Forum is significant.
There is already considerable hostility between the U.S. and Europe. According to reports, a routine working dinner at Davos ended in an unpleasant manner: U.S. Commerce Secretary Rutenberg strongly criticized Europe at the dinner, causing the entire audience to boo, and then European Central Bank President Lagarde angrily left.
At the same time, China is undoubtedly steadily enhancing its image as a responsible major power on the international stage. For many years, Chinese leaders have consistently emphasized that China is a reliable partner in safeguarding the multilateral system and free trade. In fact, many countries are beginning to view China from a new perspective. The unpredictability and arrogance of the Trump administration have prompted countries to seek stable relations with another superpower.
In addition, the United States' rapid withdrawal from multiple international institutions has created a power vacuum, which provides opportunities for countries like China to expand their influence.
The decline of the United States' international status may also affect its technological development. Although several American companies are leading in key technology research and development today, the distrust of Trump by other countries, as well as the close ties of some companies with the "Make America Great Again" movement, may give Chinese products a relative advantage in the future, especially in the field of artificial intelligence language models. China's open platform is forming a competitive situation with the closed platform of the United States.
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau pointed out that if a hegemonic country tries to use its position in a brutal and exploitative way to gain benefits, its ability to exploit will inevitably decline gradually. The reason is simple: if other countries can escape being completely controlled by it, they can re-integrate their strength, reduce their dependence, become stronger and more resilient. (Translation/ Han Chao)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7599113270125838894/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.