World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, 5 January 2022. (Keystone/Martial Trezzini)

Global health groups brace for funding fallout ahead of Trump’s comeback. Four years after concluding his first term as president of the United States, Donald Trump returns to the White House on Monday after spreading a trail of messaging suggesting major implications for global health spending. But given the leader’s reputation for unpredictability, Geneva experts are left guessing his game plan.

🔎GO FURTHER:

💵Trump's expected retreat from the UN stokes financial jitters in Geneva
🪖Trump, Ukraine war, and the politics of unpredictability
🤝🏻❝Multilateralism under Trump 2.0? Not unless there’s something to be gained for the US

DAVOS. The global elite will gather in the Swiss Alps this week for the annual schmoozefest, where they’ll discuss the world’s problems – and how they can solve them.

⭐VIP guestlist. Some 60 state leaders are slated to address the five-day meeting. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, embattled German chancellor Olaf Scholz, Spanish president Pedro Sánchez, Swiss president Karin Keller-Sutter and European chief Ursula von der Leyen are planning to attend in person. So are Argentina and South Africa’s presidents Javier Milei and Cyril Ramaphosa.

Syria’s new leadership will send its foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, on his first visit to the west, where he will predictably appeal for sanctions to be lifted as the country tries to kickstart its ailing economy. Israeli president Isaac Herzog is also expected to show up as the first stage of a ceasefire in Gaza gets underway.

Donald Trump is set to address the meeting on Thursday, just days after taking office, this time around via video. His return to the White House has sparked much uncertainty over the potential ripple effects on global issues ranging from humanitarian aid to health to trade.

During his last appearance in 2020, he downplayed his “America First” rhetoric and spoke in favour of free trade. After the flurry of statements about imposing tariffs on enemies and allies alike these past months, his speech will be highly scrutinised by global business leaders who will have to decide how to navigate Trump’s anticipated protectionist policies. Will they take their cue from Silicon Valley and kiss the Republican’s ring?

International organisation officials, including UN top boss António Guterres, weather chief Celeste Saulo, the head of the trade body, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WHO's Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and UNDP's Achim Steiner, will also travel to the ski resort.

👑Leadership shakeup. This will be WEF’s first conference since chair and founder Klaus Schwab announced last May that he would relinquish some of his executive powers this year after more than half a century at its helm.

GAZA. The ceasefire agreed between Hamas and Israel went into effect yesterday, ending 15 months of relentless war that has ravaged Gaza, at least for now. As the warring parties continue to negotiate the next stages, humanitarian organisations are already jumping into action as millions of Palestinians are in desperate need of aid. The World Health Organization estimates $10 billion is needed to rebuild the strip’s collapsed health system, and it will take from five to seven years.

HUMAN RIGHTS CORNER. In Geneva, states will be busy at the Human Rights Council examining their peer’s rights records. Italy, El Salvador, The Gambia, Bolivia, Fiji, San Marino, Kazakhstan, Angola and, last but not least, Iran will be on the hot seat this week. Human Rights Watch’s recently released report sheds light on abuses in most of the countries.

– By Michelle Langrand