Mark Carney names Anita Anand to lead Canada’s foreign policy as relations with India, US take center stage
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed Anita Anand as the new Foreign Minister, assigning her a pivotal role in steering Canada’s international diplomacy—particularly resetting strained relations with India and managing complex ties with President Donald Trump’s America, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
Carney’s reshuffled cabinet places Indian-origin leaders in strategic roles amid a diplomatic pivot
Anand’s appointment comes as part of Carney’s streamlined 28-member cabinet, down from 39 in the previous Trudeau administration. Carney emphasized the need for “new ideas, a clear focus and decisive actions” in delivering on his “mandate for change.”
Anand, a seasoned cabinet member who previously held the defence and transport portfolios, had announced her retirement from politics earlier this year
However, following her re-election, Carney successfully persuaded her to rejoin the cabinet and take on the crucial foreign affairs brief. She replaces Melanie Joly, who was moved to the transport and internal trade ministry after her tenure saw tensions escalate with India—most notably through the expulsion of six Indian diplomats over the controversial Hardeep Singh Nijjar case.
New faces and key exits mark Carney’s cabinet overhaul
In addition to Anand, Carney appointed Maninder Sidhu as International Trade Minister, assigning him a central role in promoting Canadian business abroad. Ruby Sahota, formerly Minister of Democratic Institutions, has been moved to Secretary of State for Crime Prevention, while Randeep Sarai takes on International Development as another Secretary of State.
Three Indian-origin ministers from Justin Trudeau’s previous cabinet—Arif Virani, Kamal Khera, and Harjit Singh Sajjan—are no longer part of the leadership team. Sajjan did not seek re-election, while the other two were dropped from the new lineup.
Carney’s vision appears to be focused on recalibrating Canada’s international stance. With tensions from the Nijjar affair still simmering and trade challenges with the United States intensifying, Anand’s role will be central in rebuilding trust with India. Carney had earlier called ties with India “incredibly important” and expressed hope for a path forward based on mutual respect.
Meanwhile, Dominic LeBlanc has taken charge of the Canada-US trade portfolio, one of the most critical roles in light of the ongoing tariff disputes. Chrystia Freeland, former deputy prime minister and one-time challenger to Carney for party leadership, now leads the industry ministry.
