For decades, the U.S.–Canada relationship has been shorthand for stability. But under President Donald Trump, the alliance has carried a sharper edge, with tariffs, tense trade talks, and even jokes about turning Canada into the 51st state. Into that atmosphere stepped Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, who visited Washington this week to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Their conversations spanned Ukraine, trade, Haiti, and the Middle East — a mix of crises and negotiations that underscore how complex the cross-border relationship has become.
For Anand, Ukraine remains the most pressing issue. With President Trump signaling recently that the U.S. could support long-term security guarantees for Kyiv, she saw a rare chance to push diplomacy forward. “The meeting of the European leaders on Monday with President Trump does present a renewed approach to seeking peace,” she said. Canada’s own Chief of Defense Staff, Jennie Carignan, was among those huddling with allies on the military side. “This is a different moment,” Anand said, careful to note that the guarantees still need “meat on the bones.” But she was confident: “From the words that we heard on Monday and then certainly in my conversations thereafter, I believe that we will all be at the table in that regard.”
That kind of optimism sits awkwardly alongside the friction elsewhere in the relationship. Just weeks ago, Trump raised tariffs on Canadian goods not covered by USMCA, the U.S.–Mexico–Canada trade deal. Anand pushed back gently, reminding Washington that three-quarters of all cross-border trade falls under USMCA’s protections. “The trade relationship is stronger than is often depicted,” she said, though she acknowledged the pain for Canadian steel, aluminum, lumber, and auto industries. Next year’s scheduled review of USMCA could turn into another flashpoint.
Security cooperation, too, has raised questions. Prime Minister Mark Carney recently ordered a review of Canada’s $27 billion purchase of more than 80 F-35 fighter jets. Asked whether Canada was reconsidering because of mistrust in U.S. commitments, Anand demurred. “In every relationship, there are hills and there are valleys,” she said. “And what we are doing as diplomats and as countries is to see through the valleys to ensure that we walk this road together.” Canada, she emphasized, is still committed to the F-35 deal.
The conversation widened beyond North America. Anand defended Canada’s decision to recognize Palestine next month at the U.N. General Assembly even with U.S. officials cricizing their decision as one that undermines that States’ negotiations with Israel. She said, “Our intention is to maintain a two-state solution as a viable policy outcome.”
And on Haiti, Anand echoed Washington’s concern that current efforts have not produced enough stability. Canada supports Kenya’s leadership of a multinational mission but wants the United Nations to take on a stronger role. “Let’s work on establishing a tangible presence for the United Nations in Haiti,” she said. “How do we ensure that this is going to be a solution that stands the test of time?”
