French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a compelling special address at the World Economic Forum's 56th annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on January 20, 2026, calling on G7 nations to engage BRICS and G20 countries for global economic stability. With France holding the G7 presidency throughout 2026, Macron outlined ambitions to restore the group as a forum for frank dialogue among major economies, targeting the summit on June 15-17 in Evian-les-Bains. He warned of a dangerous shift toward "a world without rules," where international law faces erosion amid escalating trade wars and protectionism.

Economic Imbalances at the Core

Macron pinpointed structural distortions fueling instability: U.S. overconsumption, Chinese overinvestment and underconsumption, and Europe's chronic underinvestment alongside competitiveness shortfalls. "Trade wars, protectionist escalation, races towards overproduction will only produce losers," he declared, advocating shared diagnosis and concrete actions over blame. Development gaps exacerbate these issues, rendering traditional aid insufficient for poverty escape; Macron pushed for efficient cooperation assuming mutual responsibility.

Confronting U.S. Tariff Pressures

The address directly addressed U.S. President Donald Trump's recent threats of 10% tariffs from February 1 on eight European countries including France—rising to 25% in June—tied to support for acquiring Greenland from Denmark. Macron criticized U.S. trade pacts that "undermine our export interests, demand maximum concessions, and openly aim to weaken and subordinate Europe," deeming endless tariffs "fundamentally unacceptable." Rejecting both submission to "the law of the strongest" and empty moralism, he championed "effective multilateralism" rooted in UN principles.

Extending Bridges to BRICS and Emerging Powers

As India takes BRICS chairmanship for 2026—its 20th anniversary year—Macron emphasized building "bridges and more cooperation with emerging countries, the BRICS, and the G20," arguing global fragmentation serves no one. "Cooperating is not about blaming others; it is about assuming one's share of responsibility and contributing to solutions," he stated. France aims to foster this via G7, promoting convergence through multilateral frameworks.

Europe's Strategic Response

For Europe, Macron prescribed three pillars: protection via "European preference" and trade defenses like mirror measures against Asian overcapacity; simplification to slash red tape; and massive investment in innovation, especially AI and clean tech, to close the U.S.-Europe GDP per capita gap (65-70% attributable to innovation disparities). He highlighted France's strengths—low-carbon nuclear exports (93 TWh last year), AI/quantum ecosystems, and rule-of-law predictability—to attract FDI.

Latest Developments (January 21, 2026)

Trump publicized Macron's private proposal for a Paris G7 summit inviting Russia, Ukraine, Denmark, and Syria to tackle Ukraine, Greenland, and Syria issues, plus a dinner; Macron's office verified it. Macron opted out of Trump's "Board of Peace" for Gaza, prioritizing sovereignty. India's BRICS focus under Jaishankar stresses inclusivity, resilience, and mutual respect, with no formal BRICS response yet.