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This special free quick review covers Day 4’s events from the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 while previewing Day 5. Amid a fractured global order, Day 4 focused on calls for pragmatic multilateralism, free-market reforms, and sustainable energy transitions. Full recap below – no fluff, just sources and highlights.

Key Signals from Day 4

* Geopolitical pragmatism rises: Leaders urged adaptation to great-power competition and regulatory overhauls.

* Free markets vs. overregulation: Warnings on excessive rules stifling growth, with pushes for deregulation.

* Energy and blue economy spotlight: Emphasis on sustainable maritime fuels and collaborative ocean strategies.

* AI and tech abundance: Discussions on technological optimism amid societal integration needs.

* Ukraine conflict updates: Appeals for dialogue to end the war.

Day 4 Recap

Chris Wright – U.S. Energy Secretary (in conversation with Vicki Hollub, CEO, Occidental Petroleum)

* Stated: “The world needs to more than double oil production,” emphasizing long-term dependence on oil for decades.

* Highlighted energy security through increased U.S. natural gas and LNG exports replacing Russian supplies in Europe post-2022.

* Criticized EU corporate environmental regulations (e.g., methane monitoring for importers) as barriers to cooperation, calling for their removal.

* Described EU and California green policies as inefficient, leading to higher prices and reduced production (e.g., California’s crude output fell from 1.1 million bpd in 1985 to 300,000 bpd in 2024).

* Noted Occidental’s 2014 exit from California due to regulations, with implications for global supply chains and fossil fuel investment amid decarbonization debates.

Friedrich Merz – Federal Chancellor of Germany

* Highlighted Europe’s lack of preparedness for “great power politics,” criticizing Brussels as the “world champion of overregulation.”

* Announced a summit with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni on February 12 to advance deregulation and capital market reforms.

* Stressed restoring competitiveness against the US and China, including bypassing obstacles to the EU-Mercosur trade deal.

* Urged pragmatic adaptation amid tariff threats, emphasizing security over excessive regulation.

* Noted overregulation’s impact on energy sectors, calling for streamlined rules to boost industrial growth.

Prabowo Subianto – President of Indonesia

* Emphasized Indonesia’s role as a middle power in navigating US-China tensions.

* Called for strengthened multilateralism through dialogue to address trade disruptions.

* Discussed investments in renewable energy and critical minerals to support global supply chains.

* Highlighted the need for inclusive growth in emerging markets amid geopolitical shifts.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy – President of Ukraine

* Described a “very good” meeting with US President Donald Trump, focusing on ending the war.

* Urged pressure on Russia, noting the conflict’s origins in disputed 2020 US elections.

* Appealed for continued international support to restore peace and rebuild infrastructure.

* Stressed the war’s global implications, including energy security disruptions in Europe.

Javier Milei – President of Argentina

* Advocated for free markets and economic freedom as antidotes to socialism.

* Warned against state intervention, citing historical examples of prosperity through liberty.

* Called for ethical reforms in global economics to reduce corruption.

* Emphasized tokenization of assets to streamline financial systems, with implications for energy trading.

Elon Musk – CEO, Tesla and SpaceX (in conversation with Larry Fink, CEO, BlackRock)

* Envisioned an “abundance technological” future driven by AI and sustainable energy.

* Discussed accelerating AI timelines while ensuring societal benefits.

* Highlighted Tesla’s role in EV adoption and SpaceX’s contributions to global connectivity.

* Noted energy demands from data centers, urging investments in renewables like solar and batteries.

Other Notable Addresses

* Yo-Yo Ma’s performance and conversation with Aulani Wilhelm focused on cultural dialogue for environmental stewardship.

* In the “Velocity of the Blue Economy” session, EU Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas introduced a ports strategy addressing energy, sustainability, and maritime fuels.

* Open Forum on “Beyond Earth – The Next Space Race” explored space as a domain for international cooperation.

Day 4 underscored the tension between multilateral dialogue and unilateral power plays, with leaders highlighting free-market reforms as key to navigating AI-driven growth, energy transitions, and geopolitical frictions.

Day 5 Agenda Highlights

* 09:00 CET: Closing Plenary on “A Spirit of Dialogue” – Reflections from WEF leadership on the week’s outcomes.

* 10:30 CET: Davos Kick-off for FIFA World Cup 2026 – Speakers include Gianni Infantino, Alessandro Del Piero, and Arsène Wenger on global unity through sports.

* 12:00 CET: “Investing in People” Panel – Discussions on skills transformation and AI’s workforce impact.

* 14:00 CET: “Building Prosperity Within Planetary Boundaries” – Focus on climate resilience and sustainable innovation.

* 15:30 CET: “Deploying Innovation at Scale” – CEOs on responsible AI and tech deployment.

* 17:00 CET: Final Press Conference – WEF President Børge Brende on key commitments.Which session are you watching most closely today? Reply in comments.

Which session are you watching most closely today?

Reply in the comments.

* WEF Annual Meeting 2026 Agenda(https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026)

* Live from Davos 2026: Day 4 Highlights (https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/live-from-davos-2026-what-to-know-on-day-4)

* Javier Milei Special Address Transcript (https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/davos-2026-special-address-by-javier-milei-president-of-argentina)

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