The surprising absence of world leaders at WEF 2025
The World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025 has a notable absence of several world leaders. Jan Aart Scholte, professor of Global Transformations and Governance Challenges, highlights the changing dynamics of global leadership representation at this event in an interview with CNBC.
‘The leaders of Brazil, of China, of India, who gave the keynote speeches 10 years ago, are not there now. Russia has not been welcomed for some years now, Keir Starmer is not going to be there. Macron's not going to be there,’ Scholte points out. He notes that whilst some leaders like the Spanish prime minister will attend, the overall representation of major global players is lacking.
The 55th annual WEF, themed ‘Collaboration for the Intelligent Age’, aims to convene nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries. However, the absence of leaders from India, China, France, Italy, and the UK is particularly striking. Of the G7 nations, only outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will attend in person.
Scholte observes a shift in the forum's appeal, stating, ‘There are various indicators that a site like the World Economic Forum isn't as strong a magnet as it might have been a couple of decades ago’. He suggests this change reflects broader trends in global politics and economics, including pushback against globalisation and the rise of populist movements.
Despite these challenges, Scholte emphasises that the WEF remains influential in certain areas of global economic governance. The forum's agenda focuses on key areas such as reimagining growth, industries in the intelligent age, and rebuilding trust, demonstrating its continued relevance in addressing global challenges.
Read the full article on the CNBC website.