Canada’s Anita Anand calls for greater strategic autonomy, diversification at UN General Assembly

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand called for greater strategic autonomy and diversified international partnerships during her address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly, warning that the global order is undergoing a period of major change.

In her national statement on September 26, Anand said the world had entered a “new era of disorder,” with major powers turning away from global economic cooperation and weakening economic integration. She did not name the United States directly in the speech.

Anand said Canada could no longer afford to depend on a single partner and would instead diversify its relationships while pursuing a foreign policy described by the government as “realistic” and values-based. She said Canada was exploring opportunities with partners in the Indo-Pacific, the Gulf and Latin America, including renewed partnerships with major economies such as India and China.

Anand also called on middle powers to work collectively as the international system changes. She said Canada would focus on strengthening its strategic capabilities in areas including emerging technologies, critical minerals, defence production and energy.

Separately, Anand met Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on September 27 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. According to Global Affairs Canada, the two ministers discussed progress on the Canada-India roadmap covering trade, security, energy, mobility, innovation and defence. They also discussed negotiations toward a Canada-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and potential cooperation on renewable energy, critical minerals and civil nuclear energy.