I was updating the introduction to one of the books in my trilogy of Lissa Blackwood S.I.G. action-thrillers yesterday. A big part of me was shocked by some of the words I was typing:
“… As I write this at the start of 2026, Russia and the USA are seemingly accommodating each other’s strategically incompatible actions, as long as they are limited in scope to newly emerging ‘spheres of influence’.
Such toleration, verging on tacit endorsement of imperial-style expansion, is burning the trust underlying former alliances in their wake, and both superpowers are increasingly being viewed as Rogue States by other nations.”
Previously, no part of me could have ever imagined the USA becoming a rogue state.
My heart has been lifted by one bright light shining against the Law of the Jungle that these rogue state superpowers are creating.
Speaking for Canada, and the rest of the world beyond what he called the Great Powers, Mark Carney showed immense leadership at the World Economic Forum to state clearly how the World now is.
I really wish that the UK had Mark Carney as its PM.
I’m not really joking as I say that.
With the internet now awash with lies on the US tech-bros‘ platforms and polarised reporting in US media channels, here are some of Mr Carney’s words, taken straight from the WEF transcript of his speech.
“… recently, great powers have begun using economic integration as weapons, tariffs as leverage, financial infrastructure as coercion, supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited… You cannot live within the lie of mutual benefit through integration, when integration becomes the source of your subordination…”
” … the middle powers must act together, because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu…”
I agree. Excluding the superpower Rogue States, I believe that the rest of us need to heed Mr Carney’s words and form new international partnerships that respect the law, and which work around superpower belligerency. This includes accepting that NATO is now dead, and a new Western security treaty is needed that does not include the USA.
I also can’t believe that I just wrote “… NATO is now dead…” Oh my.
Lee J. Russell, Author 