Pete Hoekstra confirmed as US ambassador to Canada

The US Senate has confirmed the appointment of Pete Hoekstra to be the US ambassador to Canada, as ties between the two traditional allies reach their lowest point in years.

Hoekstra, a Republican, is a former ambassador to the Netherlands and represented Michigan in the House from 1993 to 2010.

At his Senate hearing in March, Hoekstra backed Canada as a "sovereign" country despite Trump's threats to turn it into the 51st state.

In a statement following his confirmation on Wednesday, he called Canada "our most valuable trading partner, our largest source of foreign investment and our largest source of energy imports."

The Senate voted 60-37 to confirm Hoekstra's appointment, with several Democrats voting alongside Republicans to confirm President Donald Trump's nominee.

He succeeds David Cohen as the US ambassador to its northern neighbour.

Hoekstra's appointment comes at a difficult time. His boss, Trump, recently threatened annexation and a global tariff war, and has repeatedly insulted Canada since he took office in January.

Over the past months, Trump urged Canada to become the "51st state" of the United States, and referred to then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "Governor Trudeau".

But at his Senate hearing in March, Hoekstra said Canada was an independent country, noting the close ties between his home state of Michigan and Ontario. Still, Trump's comments, along with the tariffs imposed on Canadian goods have turned Canadians against their southern neighbour.

Washington and Hoekstra will soon face a new Canadian prime minister, with Canadians going to the polls on 28 April. Prime minister and Liberal leader Mark Carney, who has a slim lead in the polls, took a firm stance against US threats.

Carney has previously said Ottawa's old relationship with Washington "is over", imposed retaliatory tariffs against the United States and called for Canada to strengthen its relationships with other countries.