Mark Carney was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Canada on Friday, officially replacing Justin Trudeau, according to media reports.

Carney, an economist and former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, took the oath of office in the presence of General Mary Simon, the personal representative of Canada’s head of state, King Charles.

The leadership change comes at a time of strained relations with the United States under President Donald Trump’s administration, raising concerns among geopolitical analysts.

The 59-year-old Carney, despite having limited political experience, outpaced other contenders for leadership of the ruling Liberal Party. His expertise in managing complex economic crises is seen as a key asset in his new role.

Carney’s first major challenge is expected to be repairing Canada-US relations, which analysts say have hit an all-time low.

Carney plans to reshuffle his Cabinet, with Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc set to move to the international trade portfolio and Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne expected to become Foreign Minister. This strategic shift aims to strengthen Canada’s ties with key European allies, particularly in London and Paris, where Carney is scheduled to visit next week.

Carney replaces Justin Trudeau, who served as Canadian Prime Minister for over nine years. In his first statement as Prime Minister, Carney stressed his commitment to defending Canadian sovereignty, stating that he would only meet with Trump “when there is respect for Canadian sovereignty.”

Reports suggest that Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly is working to arrange a call between Trump and Carney.