Canada reconnects with Saudi Arabia after 5 cold years

UPGRADE DAY

Five years after an unprecedented cold between the two nations, Canada and Saudi Arabia announce the resumption of diplomatic relations “at their previous level”.

In a statement, Global Affairs reports that the change of course was the result of a discussion held between Justin Trudeau and the crown prince of the Gulf kingdom, Mohammed bin Salman during the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in Bangkok on November 18, 2022.

The chosen ambassador is senior official Jean-Philippe Linteau, who had held the role of consul general in Dubai since 2019.

Relations had been strongly shaken after a tweet by former Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, who said she was “seriously concerned” by a series of arrests against protesters of the regime, in particular Samar Badawi, sister of Raïf Badawi, who demanded his release.

Global Affairs Canada reports that in 2021, “Canadian exports were $2.2 billion and imports were $2.4 billion.”

< p>“Canadian imports were made up almost exclusively of petroleum and petrochemical products,” we note, while “Canadian exports were made up of 81% transportation equipment.”

Also remember the gigantic contract for Canadian arms signed by Saudi Arabia in 2014, worth 14 billion dollars.