OTTAWA: Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday launched his term in office with a whole-hearted rejection of US President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to annex his northern neighbour.

Shortly after he was sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister, replacing Justin Trudeau who has been in office since 2015, Carney said confronting Trump’s tariffs would be a top priority.

Canada “will never, ever, in any way, shape or form, be part of the United States,” he said, while voicing hope his government could one-day “work together” with Washington to advance each country’s interests.

Ottawa has been rattled by collapsing cross-border relations since Trump returned to power, launching a trade war and demanding that Canada become the 51st US state. Canada has retaliated against Trump’s tariffs, while Canadian public opinion has been outraged as the US president insists the border separating the countries should be erased.

Carney has characterised the Trump administration as the greatest challenge Canada has faced in a generation.

He became prime minister after overwhelmingly winning a Liberal Party vote to replace Trudeau as leader, but the former central banker, who turns 60 on Sunday, is a political novice who has never won an elected public office.

His campaign skills may be tested soon with Canada likely headed for a general election in weeks. The threats posed by Trump are expected to dominate the vote.

He said he will fly to Paris and London next week, part of an effort to reinforce Canada’s alliances overseas as ties with the United States unravel.

He has sought to present himself as purpose-built to lead a country through a tra­de war with the US, once Can­ada’s closest ally that Carney says Ottawa can “no longer trust.”

Earlier at a Group of Seven meeting in Quebec, Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly who keeps her job in the new cabinet as well said a call between the presidents of US and Canada was being planned for sometime in the next few days.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2025