Party time at Davos

Jan 18, 2024

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SPOTTED: A golden Oscar statuette, being passed around the table by legendary musician Sting and Britain’s former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne at Goals House last night.

GREETINGS FROM THE SLOPES, and welcome to Day 4 of the World Economic Forum! We’re busy prepping for one of the highlights of the week: POLITICO’s annual party and sledge run to Davos Platz.

Tune in tonight: We’re at capacity, but you can still join the fun vicariously via our livestream, and catch our set-piece interview with two Davos heavy-hitters: mining-magnate-turned-greenie Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest and Kevin Rudd, Australia’s ambassador to the U.S. (and a former Aussie PM).

VVIP: We would have made an exception and extended an invite to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was left stranded in Zurich after his Boeing broke down. But we’re told he eventually jetted out on a different aircraft — though the press pool traveling with him wasn’t quite so lucky, with reporters told to make their own arrangements back to the U.S.

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TRUMP FANS COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET: Meanwhile, Davos royalty Jamie Dimon caused ripples as he praised Donald Trump’s record in an interview. “Take a step back, be honest. He was kind of right about NATO, kind of right on immigration. He grew the economy quite well. Trade tax reform worked. He was right about some of China,” the JP Morgan Chase boss told CNBC. Dimon, who has previously criticized the former U.S. president, now warned that Democrats were “scapegoating” Trump supporters. The comments underscore POLITICO’s story from earlier this week, in which we reported that many in the U.S. corporate community have made peace with a second Trump term.

AFTER DARK: There’s loads more goss below from last night, when OpenAI boss Sam Altman dined with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, will.i.am got the crowds grooving at the Forbes/Global Citizen event, and Sting, Britain’s Princess Beatrice, U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry, illusionist David Blaine and frankly too many other celebs to mention hung out at the RED nightcap at Goals House. But before we get to that …

FIRST IN GLOBAL PLAYBOOK

CAMERON FIRES UP: Newly appointed British Foreign Secretary David Cameron has a message for Western countries getting wobbly on support for Ukraine. “This is like being a foreign minister or a leader in Europe in the 1930s — we have got to not appease Putin. We have got to stand up to the evil that his invasion represents,” he told Anne McElvoy’s Power Play podcast.

History’s lessons: Cameron, a former British PM who was brought back in from the political wilderness by Rishi Sunak late last year, said he believes Kyiv’s pleas are being heard loud and clear in Davos, insisting Ukraine is his “absolute number one priority.” This year, the West must show the world “that Putin isn’t winning,” he added. Write-up of the interview here.

No to Middle East cease-fire: Cameron also defended Britain’s refusal to call for an immediate cease-fire in the Middle East. “I think that just wouldn’t have worked because if you want a two-state solution, if you want a sustainable cease-fire, you can’t ask the Israelis to have a two-state solution with the people who perpetrated 7th October in command in Gaza, still able to launch rockets into their country.”

TEHRAN DEFIANT: There was a very different message being delivered in the Congress Center Salon, with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warning the packed hall “everyone will suffer if Israel’s crimes in Gaza do not stop.”

Access denied: Orange-badged reporters were barred from the session with Iran’s foreign minister, despite the fact news cameras were allowed in, a CNN reporter was moderating and the chat was livestreamed. “Sorry, it’s policy,” said an apologetic WEF staffer.

Phew, that was close: Cameron missed Amir-Abdollahian by a hair’s breadth in the entrance hall of the Congress Center as the Iranian foreign minister walked to his session. (Both were surrounded by sizeable posses.)

ZELENSKYY’S CHALLENGE: Despite David Cameron’s optimism, it’s a tough time for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He was in Davos hoping to convince deep-pocketed banks to help Ukraine’s reconstruction effort, meeting with Wall Street execs including from Chase, BlackRock and Bank of America earlier this week, as Zach Warmbrodt reported.

Scoop: But Zelenskyy got the cold shoulder from one geopolitical powerhouse: Beijing. As POLITICO’s team on the ground reports, the Ukrainian delegation headed home without a much-desired meet-up with the Chinese — a big snub to Zelenskyy.

CLIMATE CHANGE WHITEOUT

HOT, NOT BOTHERED: It’s the existential crisis of our time, but you wouldn’t think so at Davos. Playbook can’t help but notice a distinct lack of emphasis on climate action at this year’s World Economic Forum.

Yesterday’s news: Sure, there are some panels on climate — but most of the buzz along the promenade is around AI, with a smattering of crypto. Climate protesters staged a blockade Sunday, with hundreds more protesting on Monday before the event kicked off, but since then, it’s been pretty quiet.

Backroom chatter: The climate-sized hole in proceedings was a topic of discussion at many of the private dinners attended by POLITICO this week. One charitable explanation offered by a top exec? The COP28 U.N. climate summit was such a success that businesses reckon it’s dealt with. Another explanation: Big business just doesn’t want to go there and is happy to avoid the climate agenda.

Here are some Davos attendees’ thoughts on how the climate conversation is going down this week.

— Marina Silva, Brazil’s minister for the environment, told me: “Last year, there were roundtables and discussions on climate and biodiversity, green investments and renewable energy. They are continuing this year. But there needs to be more action, to build on the work of COP28. Society is doing its part, science is doing its part. Companies and governments need to do more.”

— Andrew Forrest, founder of Fortescue and climate campaigner, said: “A fundamental policy that should come out of Davos is that global warming and climate change should be one of the fundamental elements you assess in any major project to get approval. You’re not allowed to destroy major archaeological sites, you’re not allowed to go destroy the local environment. Why would you not be assessed for global warming when you’re contemplating destroying the entire environment?”

— Jane Goodall, conservationist: “If we lose hope then we give up and we do nothing. If that happens, especially with our young people, we’re doomed,” Goodall told attendees at a private event at Salesforce House Wednesday. “We need the doom and gloom that we see in the media all the time, but if that isn’t balanced with news about all the amazing people doing incredible things, corporations beginning to change — not straight away, but beginning — let’s support them, help them to change even more.”

— Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank: The lender recently announced a big push into climate-related financing by 2025. Banga, the former Mastercard CEO who was nominated by U.S. President Joe Biden to lead the institution, says the push to help developing countries deal with climate change would survive the election of Donald Trump.

“Yes, would a particular leader in the world’s largest country, the most rich country in the world, the most powerful country in the world, would his or her views have a tangible impact? Absolutely,” Banga told Zach in an interview. “And we’ll have to deal with it, depending on who becomes president and whichever way they approach it. I’m not naïve about that. I’m just saying I think the world’s in a slightly different place than it was five years ago,” noting the developments on climate change.

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DAVOS TYPES

YOUNG GUNS REUNITE: What do actor Charlize Theron, musician will.i.am, French President Emmanuel Macron, Queen Mary of Denmark, playboy despot Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern have in common? They’ve all been named Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum. (So was failed U.S. presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, but he was so enraged, he sued the WEF to have his name taken off the list.)

Young guns get old: It’s a special year for the YGL — pronounced “yiggles,” for those in the know — as the program turns 20. The moment is being marked by numerous cocktail parties, an alumni event last night, a formal dinner tonight and lots of secret handshakes among the YGL illuminati.

Full disclosure: POLITICO would have brought you a full dispatch from the heart of the action, but our Editor in Chief for Europe Jamil Anderlini, a 2013 yiggle himself, has been struck down by the spicy cough and is quarantining in a hotel room on the promenade. Get well soon Jamil!

SAUDI’S BIG SPLASH: It’s hard to miss the Saudi presence at the WEF this year, POLITICO’s indefatigable party correspondent Paul de Villepin reports. The kingdom boasts no less than six häuser this year in Davos — a footprint surpassed only by India. Among them: the Royal Commission for AlUla house, with its eye-catching corrugated wooden facade, and the sleek “Saudi in Davos” pavilion where Riyadh’s officials are holding their bilats — in prime position right opposite the Congress Center.

Misky business: Saudi Arabia aficionados saddened by Mohammed bin Salman’s absence — the repressive authoritarian ruler was rumored to be making his first in-person appearance at the WEF, but ultimately didn’t show — will perhaps find solace at his Misk Foundation’s house.

Open door policy: Ironically, the Saudis are among the most democratic WEFers when it comes to access to their events — “no badgers” can participate in “meet the leaders” sessions animated by A-listers such as Bridgewater’s Ray Dalio and French motor racing exec Jean Todt.

KEEPING THEM HONEST: There’s a healthy sprinkling of NGOs in town this year keeping an eye on the global elite. François Valérian, chair of Transparency International, has a message for Western world leaders: “Corruption is not a thing of the past. It’s not something that’s been solved because laws have been passed and institutions have been set up,” he told Paul. “Governments have to continue to attach great importance to it, and we observe a certain lack of interest for the fight against corruption on the part of Western governments.”

WHAT KERRY DOES NEXT: John Kerry jetted into Davos hot on the heels of the news he was leaving his role as U.S. climate envoy. While here, he’s been busy assuring attendees he isn’t actually retiring — but rather shifting his energy to where he feels he could have the most impact: the U.S. election campaign. My colleague Karl Mathiesen has the details.

ALL HAIL CAPITALISM! Davos regular and recently elected Argentinian President Javier Milei played to the crowd as he told his Davos audience they were “heroes” in a rousing speech on Wednesday. Lambasting socialism, he smoothed the egos of the WEF set: “Let no one tell you that your ambition is immoral. If you make money, it’s because you offer a better product at a better price.”

COUNTERPOINT: A bunch of millionaires and billionaires have penned an open letter calling for the introduction of wealth taxes to help pay for better public services around the world. “Our request is simple: we ask you to tax us, the very richest in society,” argue the signatories, including actor Brian Cox (aka Logan Roy) and Disney heir Abigail Disney. The Guardian reports some of the signatories were planning to deliver the letter to world leaders in Davos — let us know who you spotted.

DAVOS REALITY CHECK: Davos types love to pat themselves on the back for being the globe’s elite brains. But POLITICO’s Founding Editor John Harris has a contrarian view from his time on the mountain: Everyone is winging it, experts and schlubs alike.

AROUND TOWN

FORECAST: Low of -9C/15F; high of 3C/37F. But watch out — temperatures are dropping ahead of what’s going to be a frigid Friday.

COFFEE TIP: If you’re on struggle street this morning (and let’s face it, a fair few of us are), you can get a mean flat white fix over at Ukraine House, Promenade 59, where baristas from Lviv roaster Svit Kavy are slinging top-notch brews.

PRIME REAL ESTATE: Forget access to world leaders — the most coveted commodity in the Congress Center this week has been charging outlets. Delegates were jockeying for prime positions beside plugs as they charged up their devices. Just like the rest of us, the world’s leaders live in fear of their phones going flat.

SCANDI CORNER: Sometimes you just need to hang with your own people. Spotted in the Congress Lounge: Former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former Swedish PM Carl Bildt and former Swedish European Commissioner Cecilia Malmström getting hygge with it over coffees.

ANYONE FOR TENNIS? The Public Speakers’ Lounge carried live coverage of Novak Djokovic’s at-times nail-biting four-set Australian Open win over Aussie home-grown hero Alexei Popyrin on TVs in the private forum on Wednesday.

RUBBER-NECKING: Crowds jammed the Promenade just after 6 p.m. last night to catch a glimpse of French President Emmanuel Macron at the Filecoin Sanctuary and Bill Gates at Infosys a few doors down. Though Macron stayed out of view, Gates was on full display through the glass shopfront, with enthusiastic fans taking videos from the street.

SPOTTED

— Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski deep in conversation in the Congress Center between sessions.

— Outgoing U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry sporting a snazzy blue scarf, on the phone in the Hotel Seehof lobby.

— John Kerry, in the same snazzy scarf and some sturdy-looking hiking shoes, chatting intently with a badge-wearing Bill Gates on the promenade, flanked by security. Globalists unite!

— Former U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan chatting with Teneo CEO Paul Keary in the Congress Lounge.

— At JP Morgan’s cocktail reception: Chief Jamie Dimon greeting guests and posing for photos with former U.K. PM Tony Blair … Dell CEO Michael Dell … Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein … Institute of International Finance President and CEO Tim Adams … POLITICO’s John Harris and Zach Warmbrodt.

— At the Pace Society reception at IBM Pavilion: Randstad’s Sarah Campbell Donia, Cepsa’s Juan Llobell, IBM’s Jonathan Adashek, Brian Lott of Mubadala, Ramiro Prudencio of McKinsey.

— At the RED nightcap at Goals House: Sting, Tony Blair, former U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, John Kerry, Princess Beatrice, George Osborne, Brian Moynihan, Leo Varadkar, David Blaine, Open Society Foundations President Mark Malloch Brown, former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Britain’s Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, Bezos Earth Fund President Andrew Steer, Freuds’ Matthew Freud, Christopher Upperman of Meta, Sky News’ Ed Conway, Bloomberg’s Stephanie Flanders, Stuart McLaughlin of Google.org, ONE’s David McNair.

— At McKinsey’s Nightcap at the Ameron hotel: IBM Vice Chairman Gary Cohn, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald Howard Lutnick, Penta’s Andy Whitehouse, Lithion Technologies’ Jean-Christophe Lambert, Breakthrough Energy’s Ann Mettler, Stonehage Fleming’s Pawel Sniegocki Fink.

— At Uber’s reception: CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Fast Company’s Brendan Vaughan, Nicholas Carlson of Business Insider, Peter Fischer of Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Kamal Ahmed of the News Movement, Uber’s Andrew MacDonald, Die Zeit’s Uwe Heuser, Arthur Rutishauser of SonntagsZeitung.

AGENDA

FULL PROGRAM.

Congress Center headliners (livestream)

— 10 a.m. Israeli President Isaac Herzog in conversation with WEF’s Klaus Schwab and Børge Brende.

— 10.30 a.m. Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani in conversation with POLITICO’s Founding Editor John Harris.

— 3 p.m. Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis in conversation with Foreign Policy’s Ravi Agrawal.

What else we’re watching

— 7.30 a.m. Viktor Pinchuk Foundation Ukrainian breakfast. Livestream here. Featuring Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Polish President Andrzej Duda, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron, the Netherlands’ Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren, Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, Carlyle Group chief David Rubenstein, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, historian Timothy Snyder, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko.

— 9 a.m. European Green Deal, anyone? Speakers include Kyriakos Mitsotakis, EU Green Deal Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, CEO of DTEK Group Maxim Timchenko, Novozymes President Ester Baiget.

— 10.15 a.m. A new dawn for Eurasia? Speakers include Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili, Kazakh Economy Minister Alibek Kuantyrov, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Odile Renaud-Basso, chief of Sabancı Holding Cenk Alper.

— 11 a.m. Advancing gender equality, economic inclusion and female leadership in a fractured world. Speakers: Former Danish PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women Cherie Blair. Filecoin Sanctuary.

— 2 p.m. No recovery without trade and investment. Speakers include: EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, WTO boss Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, CEO of Mubadala Investment Company Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Deputy PM of Canada Chrystia Freeland, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan.

— 3 p.m. Russia: What next? Speakers include EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, Romanian Foreign Minister Luminița-Teodora Odobescu, Tuft’s Chris Miller.

— 3.50 p.m. CNBC fireside chat with John Kerry, followed by conversation with will.i.am. Filecoin Sanctuary.

— 4.15 p.m. Uniting Europe’s markets. Speakers include: Eurogroup chief Paschal Donohoe, President of the European Investment in Bank Nadia Calviño, ECB President Christine Lagarde, Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing, Bloomberg’s Stephanie Flanders and Sequoia Capital’s Roelof Botha.

— 10 p.m. AI House Night Party, Mountain Floor and Valley Stage, AI House.

— 10 p.m. LGBTQ nightcap, venue TBC. No badges required.

THANKS TO: Paul de Villepin, Jamil Anderlini, Alex Ward, Zach Warmbrodt, Nahal Toosi, Cristina Gonzalez.

Global Playbook couldn’t happen without Editor Zoya Sheftalovich.

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