(Ottawa) Faced with the climbing of the conflict in the Middle East, the collapse of the global trade system and the difficulty of reforming her ministry, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, says he is able to help Canada cross a turbulent world.
In an in -depth interview granted Thursday to the Canadian press, Mme Anand said that her experience in politics and in the academic world can help him rationalize the approach of Canada to the world’s challenges, allowing him to defend his interests without losing her values.
“How to make sure, with such large ministries, to be really able to perform your tasks?” It is the heart of government. This is the most difficult thing to do, ”said Mr.me Anand.
“I like difficult responsibilities. »»
She quoted her visit to national defense, where she prompted the Canadian Armed Forces to fight against sexual misconduct and organized donations of military supplies to front -line forces in Ukraine.
Previously, as Minister of Supply during the Pandemic of COVID-19, she brought one of the most important and most complex ministries of Ottawa to deliver vaccines across the country in a few days.
Mme Anand underlines how it was difficult to say: “You have to buy this or that product today. »»
“It’s a bit the same approach I bring to foreign affairs, and it’s really stimulating,” she added.
Mme Anand explained that her work is to listen carefully to what external service says, even if she does not always follow her directives.
“We must think independently, take into account the advice received, but also to fulfill their obligations to the Canadian population,” she said.
“I appreciate the advice given to me by my collaborators, but ultimately, the decisions I make are based on an independent judgment as to what is best for our country in terms of diplomatic relations and foreign policy. »»
Reduce dependence in the United States
Much of his work, she explained, is to support Prime Minister Mark Carney’s efforts to reduce Canada’s dependence on the United States in terms of trade and defense.
“We are studying all the options to strengthen our collaboration with trade partners and reliable allies around the world,” she added.
“My role as Minister of Foreign Affairs is to defend the interests of Canada in this process and to ensure that we also defend peace, civil security and respect for international law,” she said.
Carney set the tone for a large part of Canada’s foreign policy, and Minister Anand will accompany the Prime Minister during a diplomatic trip to Europe next week.
Canada will sign an agreement with the European Union in Brussels on Monday, mainly focused on defense public procurement. Mr. Carney and Mme Anand will then go to the top of NATO in the Netherlands, where they hope to use the new promises of spending from Canada and its allies to maintain the commitment of the United States in favor of collective defense.
The approach of Mr. Carney in matters of foreign policy is strongly oriented towards Europe and could include more contacts in Asia and Africa before the summits in which he must participate this fall on the two continents.
Maintain foreign aid
If his government responds to calls from his allies in favor of a strong increase in defense spending, he also goes against an international trend by promising not to reduce foreign aid.
“We are deeply attached to multilateralism rather than unilateralism, global cooperation rather than increased protectionism,” said Mr.me Anand.
“We have to highlight Canada’s values in terms of peace, civil security and respect for international law. But we are going through a period when we must also strategically promote our economic interests here, in the country, and ensure that we have defense and security agreements in place for the protection of our own country. »»
She said that her ministerial experience in the fields of defense, supply, transport and the Treasury Board – which oversees the expenses of all the other ministries – gives it a unique perspective on the way governments can concretely keep their promises.
During the recent G7 summit in Alberta, she was at the forefront of seeing her closest counterparts in Canada write declarations on subjects ranging from artificial intelligence to transnational repression.
Rapper with India
This summit enabled him to meet in person representatives of the traditional allies of Ottawa and others from increasingly influential emerging countries, including his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
The Carney government is preparing to restore its diplomatic relations with India – a controversial decision, given the recent history between Ottawa and New Delhi.
In 2023 and 2024, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Royal Canada Gendarmerie (RCMP) said there were evidence connecting Indian government agents to the murder of the Sikh Canadian Sikh Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.
Last October, the RCMP commissioner Mike Duheme said the police had evidence connecting Indian government representatives to other crimes committed in Canada, including extortion, coercion and homicide.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service has identified India as one of the main engines of foreign interference in a report published this week.
Mme Anand said that Ottawa is trying to restore certain aspects of a “long -standing relationship, suspended for a few years”, while respecting law and institutions, such as the RCMP.
“The global strategic environment is very unstable and we must carefully ensure the foundations of our democracy,” she said.
A ministry to reform
Anita Anand was born and grew up in Nova Scotia from Immigrant parents from India. As a lawyer and professor in Toronto, she focused on the field of corporate governance, that is to say the way companies can reform their mode of operation.
Global Affairs Canada is undergoing strong pressure to change its operation. The ministry launched a reform plan in February 2024, admitting in particular that it can be “slow to react or lack concentration” when major crises broke out, and its staff endowment policies are not up to its growing responsibilities and tighter budgets.
The situation has only become more complex since Washington reduce its foreign aid and approaching a revengeful Russia, while China encourages the increase in trade with Canada and other countries.
Canada has promised to appoint new ambassadors to Africa and open new embassies to Fiji and Benin, while mastering spending on government.
Canada detractors are used to claiming that these are just words in the air when it comes to international relations. Justin Trudeau has often been criticized for raising matters of human rights and integrated environmental policies in trade agreements, while failing to achieve the objectives of his government in defense expenditure or to supply his allies with liquefied natural gas.
Foreign diplomats and ministerial staff describeme Anand as a prudent, attentive woman and focused on the results. Although she takes the time to find out in depth, she wants to obtain important results, and quickly.
“We have so much work to do and we cannot waste time,” she said.
“I myself am oriented towards action and the Prime Minister knows it. This is why we will train a good team on the foreign affairs front. »»
