At this year’s final Dalarna Talks, Former Prime Minister of Sweden Fredrik Reinfeldt delivered a keynote address highlighting profound changes in the global geopolitical landscape, guiding the audience through the transition from the era of Pax Americana to a more fragmented and unpredictable world order. He noted that major powers such as the United States, China, and Russia are increasingly reshaping the world according to their own strategic interests, with direct implications for Europe and regional economies, including Dalarna.

Despite these challenges, Reinfeldt struck a cautiously optimistic tone. He emphasized the growing importance of companies and the public sector in promoting shared values, sustainability, innovation, and cross-border cooperation amid political uncertainty. Reinfeldt concluded that while established assumptions in global affairs can no longer be taken for granted, forward-looking regions like Dalarna have strong reasons for confidence by engaging stable partners in the Nordic and northern European regions while adapting to changing global rules.