 "Anita Anand: Is Carney controlling damage Trudeau did to India-Canada ties?")
Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney, newly elected after the controversial tenure of Justin Trudeau, has appointed Anita Anand, a seasoned politician of Indian origin, as the country’s new foreign minister in a sweeping Cabinet overhaul. Anand replaces Melanie Joly at a time when Canada’s relationship with India remains at its lowest ebb following a series of diplomatic crises under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The diplomatic row between India and Canada erupted in September 2023 after Trudeau alleged Indian government involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader. Both countries expelled diplomats, suspended consular services, and issued travel advisories. The situation escalated further in October 2024, with Canada expelling six Indian diplomats and India responding in kind, deepening the standoff.
Anand’s appointment: Damage control or new direction?
Anita Anand’s return to frontline politics-after previously announcing plans to step away-signals Carney’s intent to reset foreign policy while retaining experienced hands. Anand, who has served as defence minister and managed Canada’s pandemic procurement, brings a reputation for competence and crisis management.
Her Indian heritage is seen as a potential asset in mending ties with New Delhi, though expectations remain cautious given the entrenched mistrust between the two nations.
India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar congratulated Anand in a post on microblogging site X on her appointment as his Canadian counterpart.
Congratulate @AnitaAnandMP on your appointment as Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 14, 2025
🇮🇳 🇨🇦
Carney’s decision to appoint Anand is being seen as an effort to demonstrate a break from Trudeau’s approach, while leveraging Anand’s diplomatic skills and personal background to signal goodwill towards India. This assumes greater significance against the backdrop that Anand had recently indicated her intention to retire from politics. Convincing her for unretirement, for the role as Canada’s top diplomat appears to be a fresh direction that Carney looks to give to India-Canada ties.
Impact Shorts
View AllThere will be challenges for Anand
Anand assumes office as Canada faces not only the India dispute but also shifting global alliances and trade tensions with the United States. Her ability to navigate these complexities and restore dialogue with India will be closely watched, especially as both countries weigh the costs of prolonged estrangement.
While Mark Carney’s decision to appoint Anita Anand as foreign minister is seen by some as an attempt to repair the damage inflicted under Trudeau, the path to normalising India-Canada relations remains fraught. This comes amid Canada’s strained ties with the Trump administration, something that helped Carney lead his Liberal Party to victory in the recently held parliamentary election.
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