WEF Davos 2026: Donald Trump to attend summit with largest-ever US delegation; strong Indian side also expected

US President Donald Trump will attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos later this month, accompanied by at least five Cabinet members, as global leaders gather against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.

The five-day summit will begin on January 18 in the Swiss ski resort town, organisers announced on Tuesday.As per news agency PTI, at least 64 heads of state or government are expected to attend the annual meeting, with six of the seven G7 nations represented by their top leadership. China and Pakistan will also send large delegations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is among the leaders expected to be present, with the forum set to focus closely on the situation in Ukraine, the war in Gaza and developments in Latin America, including Venezuela.WEF President and CEO Borge Brende said the meeting comes at a time of extraordinary global strain, describing the current geopolitical situation as the most complex since 1945. Dialogue is not a luxury in times of uncertainty, but an urgent necessity today, he said, underlining the forum’s theme of fostering a spirit of dialogue."At a critical juncture for international cooperation - marked by profound geoeconomic and technological transformation - this year's Annual Meeting will be one of our most consequential.

With historic levels of participation, it will provide a space for an unparalleled mix of global leaders and innovators to work through and look beyond divisions, gain insight into a fast-shifting global landscape, and advance solutions to today's and tomorrow's biggest and most pressing challenges," he added.Trump is expected to lead the largest-ever US delegation to Davos. According to PTI, those accompanying him include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. As per news agency AFP, Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East and Ukraine, will also attend. Trump had addressed Davos via video last year, but his in-person participation this time follows a year marked by aggressive tariff measures that reshaped global trade dynamics.India will also feature prominently at the summit with a strong political and corporate presence. As per PTI, at least four Union ministers — Ashwini Vaishnaw, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Pralhad Joshi and K Ram Mohan Naidu — are expected, along with six chief ministers, including Maharashtra’s Devendra Fadnavis, Andhra Pradesh’s N Chandrababu Naidu, Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma, Madhya Pradesh’s Mohan Yadav, Telangana’s A Revanth Reddy and Jharkhand’s Hemant Soren. Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar is also likely to attend.More than 100 Indian CEOs are expected in Davos, including Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran, Bajaj Group’s Sanjiv Bajaj, Bharti Group’s Sunil Bharti Mittal and Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, according to PTI. Indian leaders will take part in panel discussions, including one examining whether India can become the world’s third-largest economy, besides holding bilateral meetings and attending India-focused events on the sidelines.Overall, the WEF expects more than 3,000 participants from over 130 countries, including over 1,700 business leaders and a record number of political leaders, along with representatives from civil society, global financial institutions and technology companies, reinforcing Davos’s role as a key platform for global dialogue.