Your World Tonight - ’Framework’ Greenland deal, Carney’s speech backlash, winter games safety worries, and more

Episode Date: January 21, 2026

Following a wide-ranging speech by U.S. President Donald Trump in Davos, that again threatened the use of economic force to take Greenland, Trump claims he and NATO chief Mark Rutte have agreed to the ‘framework’ of a future deal on Greenland, and he is cancelling planned tariffs on European allies over the matter.Plus: A day after Prime Minister Carney tried to rally middle powers at the World Economic Forum against ‘hegemons,’ President Trump called out Canada, saying our country only lives because of the U.S., and delivered a warning to ‘Mark’ about any future, similar statements.And: No snow? Oh no! Why the future of the Winter Olympics may hinge on climate change.Plus: Strengthening Arctic security, Ontario grinds axe over EV deal, Canada’s Olympic short-track speed skating stars prepare, and more.

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This is a CBC podcast. It's a long-term deal. It's the ultimate long-term deal. And I think it puts everybody in a really good position. A 180 at a global economic summit and a world revolving at the speed of Donald Trump. Just hours after making his most direct demands for Greenland, the U.S. president announces a deal with NATO and Europe,

backing off the takeover and the terror. just like that. Welcome to Your World Tonight. I'm Susan Bonner. It is Wednesday, January 21st, just before 6 p.m. Eastern, also on the podcast. I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn't so grateful. They should be grateful to us.

Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that? Mark, the next time you make your statements. Mark Carney may have used terms like great powers and hegemon's careful not to call out Donald Trump by name, it did not matter. The U.S. President understood what was being said. Now, Canadian officials wait to see what he does next. It is the ultimate deal-making destination,

and Donald Trump claims he made a big one in Davos, Switzerland today. The U.S. president says there is a framework agreement in place about the future of Greenland. It's not clear what the U.S. or anyone else is getting, but it is a climb down from earlier threats to take the island by force and punish countries trying to stand in the way. Katie Simpson reports now on how it all played out. The U.S. President's helicopter, Marine One,

touched down in Davos, kicking off a remarkable day in which Donald Trump made all kinds of claims about Greenland, including a sudden announcement that he had the framework of a deal about the future of the island and the entire Arctic region. It's a deal that people jumped at, really fantastic for the USA, gets everything we wanted, including especially real national security and international security. Trump offered no specifics and did not clarify when asked whether this means the U.S. will control Greenland, the semi-autonomous Danish territory. It's a long-term deal. It's the ultimate long-term deal. And I think it puts everybody in a really good position,

especially as it pertains to security and minerals and everything else. As a result of this apparent deal, Trump says he will not go ahead with new tariffs on European countries opposed to U.S. control of Greenland. Hours earlier, Trump's tone had somewhat softened after he ruled out using the American military to acquire the territory. I don't have to use force. I don't want to use force. I won't use force. All of it represents a significant climb down.

And there were no signs that Trump was in a deal-making mood after he'd attacked and denigrated American allies, including Canada, in a speech to the World Economic Forum. We're building a Golden Dome that's going to, just by its very nature, going to be defending Canada. Canada gets a lot of freebies from us, by the way. They should be grateful also, but they're not. But Trump says the deal was struck after a meeting with Mark Ruta,

the head of NATO, who was publicly trying to turn the temperature down. The Secretary General dismissed Trump's complaints about the security alliance, insisting it is ready, willing and able to defend the U.S. if needed. So you can be assured, absolutely. If ever the U.S. will be under attack, your allies will be with you. Absolutely. There's absolute guarantee. There is one other significant factor that may have played a role in Trump's shifting positions. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore suggesting the markets may have something to do with it after investors were spooked by Trump's hostile rhetoric.

The bond market and the stock market really have a lot of influence on him. And when it goes down almost 900 points and people do interpret it as a sell America trade, that may well have been the reason he backed down. After Trump announced this so-called deal, North American stocks surged, which seems to have reassured investors, at least for the time being. Katie Simpson, CBC News, Washington. Watching Europe's reaction to Trump's sudden announcement, Chris Brown in London.

So, Chris, how is this news landing in Europe? Well, it's pretty late here when this framework deal broke, and it's not even really clear if European leaders, Denmark's Greenlands, were really even part of these negotiations. But every European leader felt that this crisis over Greenland was totally unnecessary. It had become self-destructive for NATO and for Europe. So the early reaction we're hearing is, thank goodness. Denmark's foreign minister, Lars Lukia Rasmussen, said,

the day ends better than it started. What's important for us is that we end this in a way that respects the Greenlandic people. Sweden's foreign minister, Maria Stenegard, said, we have repeated that we will not be blackmailed. It appears that our work together with allies has had an impact. Just one cautionary note so far from Germany's finance minister, Lars Klingbile, he warned against premature operas. optimism. Don't get your hopes up too soon, he said, because no one has seen this framework yet.

And remember, just a few hours before that, Susan, Donald Trump was at that Davos gathering, basically saying that Denmark owed the United States Greenland payback, if you will, for decades of military support. That's all I'm asking for, he said. But he did provide that first hint of a climb down when he said there would not be a military force used to take the island. After that, one Danish analyst we talked to said maybe Trump finally is getting the sense that the price for getting this is going to be too high that that was finally getting through to the White House. And Chris, the EU had convened an emergency summit on this topic for tomorrow. Well, to talk about the trade and the tariff threats, that meeting we understand is still going to go ahead. What more do we know?

Well, Trump had said he will now not impose that 10% tariff that was going to kick in on eight countries starting on February 1st. The amount was to go up to 25%, he said, until he got Greenland. Now, the EU initially did not fire back with tariffs of its own, but they did make one significant move by putting off ratifying a trade deal with the U.S. So, as you say, the summit is going ahead. there may not be retaliation, but there sure are an awful lot of questions. And really, it's very hard to see Europe after this ever looking at the United States quite in the same way again. There is a real sense of betrayal, especially in Denmark.

Today, Trump slagged its contributions to NATO. He belittled Denmark's military. He trashed all of Europe saying it's weak and ineffective. And he also said the U.S. spends trillions of dollars. on NATO and gets nothing. And of course, remember, Susan, he actually already has a deal to use as much of Greenland as he wants for the U.S. military. And all of that is leaving hard feelings and really destroys trust. Thank you, Chris. All right. Thank you. The CBC's Chris Brown reporting tonight from London. On the same day that Trump backed off his threats toward Greenland, he leaned back

into his attacks on Canada, set off by the Prime Minister's headline-grabbing speech in Davos yesterday, Trump was once again taking shots with some wondering about the risks heading into Canada-US-free trade negotiations. Kate McKenna has that story. I watched your Prime Minister yesterday. He wasn't so grateful. Mark Carney's speech at the World Economic Forum made the front pages of newspapers in Canada and abroad. It also caught the attention of one specific person, U.S. President Donald Trump,

who today responded with a threat. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that? Mark, the next time you make your statements. Before leaving the event, the Prime Minister didn't meet with Trump. Neither he nor members of his cabinet responded to the president's comments. Instead,

Carney is letting his speech do the talking. When the rules no longer protect you, you must protect yourself. Carney earned a rare standing ovation from the global elite for a speech now being labeled a doctrine, calling out Trump's behavior, though not by name, saying middle powers must ban together in order to survive a world where major powers push them around. You cannot live within the lie of mutual benefit through integration when integration becomes the source of your subordination.

Columbia Senior Research Scholar Tim Neftali says this could end up being a defining moment in Canadian history. What makes this moment unusual is that a Canadian Prime Minister is actually participating in shaping the evolution of the international system. But it's also sparking fierce. It's somewhat foreboding. Former Foreign Affairs Minister Peter McKay says the tone of the president's response is concerning, given that both countries will soon start a review of the free trade agreement, Kuzma. It can be taken a number of ways, but clearly with Canada, hanging in the balance with respect to renew talks around the Canada-U-S-Mexico trade agreement.

That does not vote well. Since his election last year, Carney has traversed the globe, looking for new trading partners and new foreign investment for Canada, all part of his main goal of moving away from over-reliance on the United States. I thought it was an extremely powerful speech. I do think that every time any Canadian politician speaks now, it's like we're walking on eggshells. But trade lawyer William Pellerin says the geography of the two countries is a simple fact.

For Canadian manufacturers, for example, you can't replace the U.S. consumer anytime soon. But Carney says he sees no other choice. And if he follows through whatever happens next, we'll mark a seismic shift for Canada. Kate McKenna, CBC News, Ottawa. Coming right up, Ontario's Premier, wants people in his province to buy cars that are built at home. calling for a boycott of Chinese EVs. Also, faster, higher, stronger, and warmer, how the climate has changed since the last time the Olympics were held in the Italian Alps.

Later, we'll have this story. That team is one of the best team we've ever had. It's the final stretch of preparations for Canada's short track speed skaters, heading towards the games and hoping to make history. It can happen. I hope it'll happen. It probably happened, honestly. I'm Sarah Levin in Montreal. Later on Your World Tonight,

the race to bring home a record seven medals and the athletes hoping to do it. As the U.S. President was speaking in Davos about Greenland, a collection of Nordic ambassadors to Canada was gathering in Yellowknife, a scheduled meeting that happens to be taking place as the region faces urgent sovereignty and security challenges. Erin Collins was there.

Aaron, you were actually in the room when news broke about a potential deal over Greenland? Yeah, that's right, Susan. As I was waiting to ask a question, my phone just started blowing up, like I think many across the Western Hemisphere were, in fact, I may have broken the news to the Danish ambassador, Nikolai Harris. I didn't have the chance to follow because we have been very busy. I cannot really comment on something I haven't seen. So obviously not the question that the ambassador expected to get today.

But certainly the question of the day, Aaron. So what were these Nordic ambassadors there to speak about? Yeah, of course. And obviously a very timely meeting. This is the Nordic diplomatic missions to Canada. So Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, all here in Yellowknife. And on the menu, panels on Arctic resilience, Arctic sovereignty, and Arctic security. and with the threat top of mind, these Nordic dignitaries

spoke about their unique strategy for defense, Susan. It's something all of these countries do, but it's essentially the concept of total defense or societal defense. Here's Denmark's ambassador to Canada, Nikolai Harris. So when we are doing our new preparedness, emergency preparedness policy, we have created some fora where we can meet with civil society, and with business as well, in order to have this whole of society approach. So, Susan, like, the idea here is this full societal buy-in to the well-being, to the preservation of the state, from the military right down to the average citizen, prepares a country not only defend borders from whoever that aggressor might be, but also to respond to everything from natural disasters to climate change.

And Canada as an Arctic country, is it the kind of strategy that makes sense here too? Yeah, it might. I mean, people here certainly think so. And there are some big thinkers in the defense world that would agree. Gail Rivar Pichet is the executive director of the Conference of Defense Association. She says that if Canada wants to get serious about its resilience and security, every Canadian needs to get more involved. We're a very big country with a very small population.

the only way we will manage to safeguard it and to make sure that we remain Canadians is by everybody getting involved. But I think we probably need to have a conversation about not conscription but national service. So big conversations and getting buy-in from Canadians likely no easy task. But perhaps that's a pitch that's made easier by the volatile and aggressive actions of our neighbors to the South. Yeah, timing is everything. Aaron, thank you. You bet. The CBC's Aaron Collins reporting from Yellowknife. They are marketed as efficient vehicles that could help save the planet.

But Ontario's premier calls them a cheap, made-in-China problem that could cause Canadians their jobs. Days after Ottawa announced a deal to allow Chinese EVs into the country, Doug Ford is continuing his attacks, and he has Ontario auto workers behind him. Jamie Strassan has more. I was very, very disappointed not to get a phone call. Ontario Premier Doug Ford again today leveled harsh criticism at a deal that will allow thousands of Chinese-made electric vehicles to flow into Canada. By opening up our country to a flood of cheap made-in-China vehicles, the federal government is asking Canadian auto workers to compete on unfair ground. Last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney made a deal with China that allows 49,000 Chinese.

Chinese EV cars to receive a vastly reduced tariff rate of 6% and be available to Canadian consumers. The free ride has to end for companies that enjoy full access to our markets. Ford was joined by auto parts and manufacturing advocates and Lana Payne, the president of Unifor, which represents thousands of auto workers across Ontario. Payne says allowing China access to the Canadian market will further batter an industry already under siege. There is little reason for those companies to establish real and meaningful manufacturing operations in our country. As of today, we have given market access without guarantees or any real commitments.

But some argue Canadian car buyers will benefit. Currently, Canada has a goal of 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035, but after steady growth, electric car sales in Canada fell sharply last year. And this deal could offer more affordable options, says Stephen Bita, director of the Electric Vehicle Society. When we see more brands of Chinese and other national branded vehicles come to Canada, then, you know, we'll be more excited. There's some options out there that would be attractive to Canadians. It won't just be Chinese brands coming to Canada. Other EV makers like Volvo and Tesla that build in China are also eligible.

And half of vehicles imported from China will cost. less than $35,000 by 2030. And while Ontario's auto sector may initially suffer this kind of deal, which shifts dependence away from the U.S. is a sign of things to come, says the University of Toronto's offer barren. Some sort of an action from the Canadian government in improving commerce with China seems to me like an essential step going forward. And a vast majority of the Canadian market remains protected from China,

imports. For now, the Chinese EVs represent about 3% of vehicles manufactured and sold in Canada. Jamie Strash and CBC News, Toronto. In just a few weeks, the Winter Olympics will get underway in northern Italy. It will be the second time the games take place in the Italian Alps. 70 years since the first edition, a lot has changed, including the climate. A new analysis suggests winter in the region is now several degrees. warmer, and that could hurt reliability and safety. On Enram, Husmore.

There's a grind and hustle in the Italian town of Livigno, getting its venues ready as part of next month's Milano Cortino Winter Games. And for most recent Olympic hosts, this noise has been necessary. Snowmaking machines, creating powdery conditions ideal for outdoor winter sport. And while it may be obvious to say... If temperatures aren't below freezing, then it's difficult. maintain that snow. Christina Dahl is with the U.S.-based non-profit climate central. Its latest report compared average temperatures in Milan and Cortina Dampetto this time of year.

To the last time the games were held there in 1956. Even then, snow was a challenge. Still, they managed to find enough last night to tuck it into pound and plaster the main streets with it. What a sight that was. The streets lined with thousands. But the difference now, it's harder to keep that snow from melting. What we found is that over those 70 years, the cities have warmed by about 3.5 degrees Celsius. That's a pretty big warming, and it can mean the difference between freezing temperatures and thawing temperatures. It's not really fair and borders on unsafe.

Daniel Scott is a professor at the University of Waterloo. He's studied how climate change impacts the Winter Olympics. The cold is necessary for competition and safety. Really warm temperatures leads to really slushy, really slow, degradable snow. We saw the difference in the Paralympics. The injury rate went up six times from Vancouver to Soshi. So some of them were paying the price even with their bodies, unfortunately. Scott's research looked at 93 potential host locations

in a world that continues warming by the burning of fossil fuels by mid-century, only around half of those places were still viable. Less for the Paralympics typically held in warmer March. One temporary solution, move both events up by a few weeks. And that actually made a huge difference. It almost took the number of climate-reliable Paralympic games hosts from 22 to 38. For now, that's a tweak, just like the snow machines, and just like hoping the weather cooperates, even as the climate warms.

Anandram, CBC News, Toronto. This is Your World Tonight from CBC News. If you want to make sure you stay up to date and never miss one of our episodes, follow us on Spotify, Apple, wherever you get your podcasts. Just find the follow button and lock us in. Canada's best short track speed skaters are in Montreal this week, racing toward the Winter Olympics with big goals and bigger expectations. As Sarah Levitt reports, this team,

could make history, and no matter the outcome, they'll be skating in style. At Montreal's renowned Maurice Richel Arena, Canada's very best in short-track speed skating take to the oval to warm up. Hurdling around the ice in skin suits, it's go-time, just two weeks shy of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. And expectations are high for the 10 athletes, led by the champions of this year's season. That team is one of the best team we've ever had, and I just wanted them to realize it and to keep pushing.

Mark Gagnan is the team's head coach. He knows what he's talking about. He was part of the winningest short-track team in Canadian Olympic history, bringing home six medals at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Today's team hopes to break that record and bring in seven. We've had good result in the last two years, and I didn't want them to set up. that but to really keep pushing forward.

How is it going to turn out? Good, bad, in the middle. I have no clue. But the idea was to make sure to have a big goal. It can happen. I hope it'll happen. It probably happened, honestly. As slim and fit as he is tall, William Dengenou tends to tower over competitors at 1.91 meters or 6 foot 2, making him unusually tall for the sport. That doesn't seem to affect him. He felt just shy of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics in 2020.

but since has proven himself a formidable opponent. Obviously, I know what I can do and you guys tend to remind me of what I can do. I feel like I can do great things. Not only will the team show off their athletic skill, but their style as well. A speed skater turned artist, Simon Olivier Couté, hands out the helmets he made for the team, white with red flames to signify their speed. He was commissioned by speed skating Canada, adding a little bit of individuality on the back of the helmets

like a bumblebee or fleur-de-li to represent Quebec. I'm super thrilled to see how they're perform, and I'm sure they're going to do super well. And knowing the fact that they're going to wear my helmets, this is surreal. This is really cool. For Courtney Sorow, the hype of the Olympics is a sidebar. She wants to treat it like any other competition. I'm happy that my best season is the one going into the Olympics,

I guess, to say the least. With that said, it does put, I guess, if I think about it too much, maybe I could put pressure on myself. Still, representing Canada in the highest level of sport is an honor. Every athlete on the ice says one they won't soon forget, made all the more better if they come home with gold. Sarah Levitt's CBC News, Montreal. We close tonight in Greens Harbor, Newfoundland,

where a songbird has followers flocking to social media. And at first, social media was a form of staying in touch and stuff. And then all of a sudden, next thing you know, my life was wrapped around his goose. And people started asking for him. Neil Simmons is a musician who also dabbles in backyard farming. He raises geese and ducks. And one of them is a rising star. Gord the Goose, also known as Gord Downey.

He likes to sit in for duets. Simmons on acoustic guitar and vocals, Gord on horns. They've done Blackbird, Free Bird, the Eagles. Gord has range, performing pop hits, folk classics, and Christmas songs. The pair have thousands of followers on TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. Gord even tries to help edit the videos. It just goes on forever. What are you doing? Settle down now, Techno Jones.

What are you doing by? Simmons believes Gord's love of music hatched early. When he was just a little gosling, Simmons would strum songs for him, and when Gord grew up, he wanted to join the band. It's our normal. It doesn't freak him out. It doesn't upset him. I think he enjoys yelling along with me sometimes.

You ready? Left you by the house of fun. Thanks for joining us on your world tonight for Wednesday, January 21st. I'm Susan Bonner. Talk to you again. Says the kneeling in the sand. Catching till drops in my... For more CBC podcasts, go to cBC.a. Podcasts.