Tuesday, October 14, 2025
25.1 C
New Delhi

Anita Anand’s legacy: How Canada’s first Indian-origin foreign minister shaped bilateral ties – ups and downs

Anita Anand’s legacy: How Canada’s first Indian-origin foreign minister shaped bilateral ties – ups and downs

Anita Anand, Canada’s first Indian-origin foreign minister, has been working to rebuild and strengthen ties between Canada and India. Since taking office, she has made a series of statements and moves aimed at restoring trust after a period of tense relations.When she assumed office, Anand openly recognised the challenges in Canada-India relations, especially following the 2023 allegations of Indian officials’ involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. In a 2025 interview, she described the situation as a “challenging chapter” and said a “one step at a time” approach was needed to rebuild cooperation between the two countries.On Monday, Anand visited India and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister S. Jaishankar. She stressed Canada’s commitment to a “long-term relationship” with India, focusing on trade, technology, energy, and climate action. After the meetings, a joint statement highlighted the importance of “respect for each other’s concerns and sensitivities,” signalling a shift towards a more constructive partnership. Under her leadership, Canada and India agreed on a roadmap to boost economic cooperation, with a focus on critical minerals, artificial intelligence, and clean energy. Bilateral trade reached $23.66 billion in 2024. Anand also highlighted the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region, aligning Canada’s foreign policy with India’s goals of regional stability and prosperity.Anand’s efforts have faced some criticism at home. The World Sikh Organization of Canada said she had not addressed the Sikh community’s concerns directly, particularly regarding issues raised during her talks with Indian officials. In response, the Hindu Canadian Foundation defended Anand, condemning the WSO’s actions as “bullying” and expressing support for her diplomatic efforts. The Foundation said that the WSO does not represent the entire Sikh community and accused it of pursuing a divisive agenda.

Go to Source

Hot this week

‘You won’t see me in bathing suit’: Trump takes another swipe at Biden; jokes about beach photos and falls

US President Donald Trump took a swipe at Joe Biden over his beach trip and also made fun of him tripping down on stairs. Read More

Baldwin blames truck for crash; dashcam video goes VIRAL

Actors and brothers Alec Baldwin and Stephen Baldwin escaped unhurt after they rammed their car into a tree in East Hampton, New York. Read More

US expects support from India, other allied nations in trade tensions with China: Bessent

Washington, Oct 14 (PTI): Amid escalating trade tensions with China over its export restrictions on rare earth minerals, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that Washington expects support from India and other allied nations. Read More

US Top Court Rejects Right-Wing Commentator’s Plea To Overturn $1.4 Billion Sandy Hook Judgment

The US Supreme Court rejected Alex Jones’s appeal to overturn a 1.5 billion defamation judgment for Sandy Hook hoax claims, forcing him to sell Infowars despite his objections. Read More

Michael Schumacher shows small signs of improvement 11 years after skiing accident: Report

Michael Schumacher fans may have a little hope after a report suggested small signs of improvement in the F1 legend’s health. Schumacher’s health has been a mystery since his tragic skiing accident in 2013. Read More

Topics

‘You won’t see me in bathing suit’: Trump takes another swipe at Biden; jokes about beach photos and falls

US President Donald Trump took a swipe at Joe Biden over his beach trip and also made fun of him tripping down on stairs. Read More

Baldwin blames truck for crash; dashcam video goes VIRAL

Actors and brothers Alec Baldwin and Stephen Baldwin escaped unhurt after they rammed their car into a tree in East Hampton, New York. Read More

US expects support from India, other allied nations in trade tensions with China: Bessent

Washington, Oct 14 (PTI): Amid escalating trade tensions with China over its export restrictions on rare earth minerals, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that Washington expects support from India and other allied nations. Read More

US Top Court Rejects Right-Wing Commentator’s Plea To Overturn $1.4 Billion Sandy Hook Judgment

The US Supreme Court rejected Alex Jones’s appeal to overturn a 1.5 billion defamation judgment for Sandy Hook hoax claims, forcing him to sell Infowars despite his objections. Read More

Michael Schumacher shows small signs of improvement 11 years after skiing accident: Report

Michael Schumacher fans may have a little hope after a report suggested small signs of improvement in the F1 legend’s health. Schumacher’s health has been a mystery since his tragic skiing accident in 2013. Read More

Riyadh fashion week 2025: British icons Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood to headline star-studded event

Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney headline Riyadh Fashion Week 2025, blending global fashion with Saudi heritage in a groundbreaking showcase. Read More

Who is Ashley Tellis, Indian-origin expert in US, who came under fire for Chinese link?

Ashley Tellis, a scholar and expert, is being probed in the US for alleged link with China. Read More

US targets suspected drug-terror vessel off Venezuela; six killed in strike, Trump says — Watch

The United States has targeted a vessel, accusing it of being affiliated with a “Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO)” conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility, just off the Coast of Venezuel Read More

Related Articles