Davos Debate Turns Sharp: UK FM Reeves reminds Trump's top man Lutnick that US & Europe need allies

A sharp exchange unfolded at the World Economic Forum in Davos as UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves directly challenged U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over global security and economic policy. Speaking during a high-level panel with officials from allied nations, Reeves pushed back against Lutnick’s criticism of globalisation, stressing that open trade and multilateral cooperation remain essential for stability and growth. Reeves reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to working with partners to strengthen global supply chains, protect economic security, and uphold a rules-based international order. Her remarks highlighted growing transatlantic differences over trade, industrial policy and the future of global cooperation under the Trump administration. The exchange underscored broader tensions at Davos, where leaders are debating protectionism, economic nationalism and the future of globalisation amid rising geopolitical uncertainty.