On the agenda are issues of security, economy, and artificial intelligence
At the 56th session of the World Economic Forum (WEF), taking place in Davos from January 19 to 23, 2026, representatives of the global political and economic elite have gathered. Leading global media, particularly RBC, are covering the details of this large-scale event.
The topics of discussion include international security, economic challenges, and artificial intelligence. The main theme of the forum is the "Spirit of Dialogue."
The forum, held annually since 1971, is located in the picturesque Alps at an altitude of over 1500 meters and is renowned as a ski resort.
More than 60 heads of state and government, 55 ministers of economy and finance, and over 800 executives from major companies are participating in the event. Among the business delegates are Nvidia President Jensen Huang, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei.
Each company pays 27,000 Swiss francs (about $33,600) for the participation of its representative, in addition to the annual membership fee.
The security of the forum is ensured by more than 5,000 military personnel, including snipers, as well as drones equipped with artificial intelligence. Security expenses are expected to reach around 9 million Swiss francs (approximately $11.2 million) in 2026.
Before the forum, a survey was conducted among 1,300 businesspeople, scientists, and representatives of public organizations. 18% of respondents identified "geoeconomic confrontation" as the main threat, 14% noted the risk of armed conflicts, and 8% pointed to extreme weather events.
According to UN data, global military spending reached $2.7 trillion in 2024, which is 9.4% more than the previous year, marking the most significant increase since the end of the Cold War.
Expected participants include G7 leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takahichi will not be present; he will be replaced by Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, and President of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Eisaku Ito.
The forum will also see the presence of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and World Trade Organization head Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. China's Vice Premier He Lifeng will also participate.
The American delegation, led by President Donald Trump, will be the largest. It includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury and Commerce Ministers Scott Bessent and Howard Latnik, Trade Representative Jamison Greer, Presidential Special Envoy Stephen Witkoff, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and members of Congress.
Since 2022, Russia has not been invited to the forum, and no official representatives from the country are expected. However, on January 19, Reuters reported a possible visit by Russian President's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who may meet with members of the American delegation, although there has been no official confirmation of this.
There will also be a Ukrainian delegation, which plans to negotiate with U.S. representatives, as reported by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga.
According to the Financial Times, Ukraine's G7 allies intend to secure Trump’s support for providing security guarantees to Kyiv. A meeting between the presidents of the U.S. and Ukraine is also anticipated, which will include G7 leaders and von der Leyen. Although Trump has not yet confirmed a meeting with Zelensky, he has not ruled out the possibility of interaction if the Ukrainian president is at the forum.
The Telegraph reports that the U.S. and Ukraine may sign an agreement for the reconstruction of Ukraine after the conflict worth $800 billion, as mentioned by Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S. Olga Stefanishina.
On the eve of the forum, on January 19, the FT reported changes to the forum's agenda. Initially, discussions on Ukrainian peace negotiations were planned; however, the topic was revised due to foreign policy activity and threats from the U.S., and the situation around Greenland will now also be considered.
In anticipation of the forum, Trump announced the establishment of a Peace Council aimed at the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. According to Axios, he intends to launch the Council's work at the forum in Davos.
The structure of the Council has not yet been determined, but it is known that it will be headed by Trump, who will also decide who will be invited. Invitations have been sent to the presidents of Argentina Javier Milei, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and von der Leyen. Leaders of France, Germany, and Australia have also received invitations, as reported by Reuters.
According to The Atlantic, Gaza is not mentioned in the Council's charter. However, the body has a two-year UN mandate for reconstruction, with members serving a three-year term, and a $1 billion contribution in the first year will make this term permanent, which may indicate more ambitious plans. Reuters characterized the Council as "Trump's UN, ignoring the main provisions of the UN Charter," as the U.S. president has previously criticized the international organization for its ineffectiveness.
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