Canada–Saudi Arabia relations#August 2018 diplomatic dispute

In April 2000, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien made a state visit to Saudi Arabia.{{cite web|url=https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1076048&language=en|title=Chretien arrival to Saudi Arabia ends his tour in the Middle East|publisher=Kuwait News Agency|date=17 April 2000|access-date=7 August 2018}} In the same year, Canadian William Sampson was arrested by the Saudi government for complicity in a suicide bombing in Riyadh, while maintaining his innocence. He was imprisoned and later criticized the Canadian government for not coming to his aid.{{cite web |last=Thorne |first=Stephen |date=8 August 2003 |title=Sampson tested by torture, deprivation |url=http://ccadp.org/williamsampson-released.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031003105628/http://ccadp.org/williamsampson-released.htm |archive-date=3 October 2003 |access-date=22 March 2009 |publisher=pub}} He was freed by British intervention after being imprisoned for two years.

Since 2006, a Canadian citizen Nathalie Morin is stuck in Saudi Arabia with an abusive husband, fighting to go back to Canada along with her four children. With the ongoing escalated tensions between Saudi Arabia and Canada, the future of Morin remains unclear.{{cite web|url= https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/shahla-khan-salter/nathalie-morin-saudi-arabia_b_3576561.html?guce_referrer_us=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_cs=YxBxJi3J13nwPrEJ91uuHA&guccounter=2|title=Canada Turned a Blind Eye to This Woman's Black Eye|date=11 July 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013|publisher=Huffpost}} According to Morin's mother Johanne Durocher, Morin is cut off from the world, locked in an apartment in Dammam, victim of physical, psychological and sexual violence from her spouse. Durocher has not had any contact with her daughter or grandchildren since August 2018.{{cite web|url= https://quebec.huffingtonpost.ca/2019/01/14/quebecoise-coincee-arabie-saoudite-inaction-gouvernement-canadien_a_23642164/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer_us=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_cs=IB3vIE1hZAp0TYRYveP8eg|title=La mère d'une Québécoise coincée en Arabie saoudite dénonce l'inaction du gouvernement canadien|date=14 January 2019 |access-date=14 January 2019|publisher=Huffpost Quebec}}

In March 2008, Canadian citizen Mohamed Kohail was sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia over the killing of a 19-year old.{{cite web|date=7 November 2008|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canadian-a-step-closer-to-execution-in-saudi-arabia-1.735168|title=Canadian a step closer to execution in Saudi Arabia|publisher=CBC News|access-date=5 March 2009}} His death sentence was revoked in 2010, and he was released in December 2012. During Kohail's imprisonment, several Canadian diplomats visited Saudi Arabia on Kohail's behalf.{{cite web |author=Banerjee |first=Sidhartha |date=28 May 2013 |title=Mohamed Kohail Free: Canadian Condemned To Death In Saudi Arabia Released |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/05/28/mohamed-kohail-free-saudi-arabia_n_3348313.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611061317/https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/05/28/mohamed-kohail-free-saudi-arabia_n_3348313.html |archive-date=11 June 2013 |access-date=21 December 2018 |website=huffingtonpost.ca |publisher=21 December 2018 |agency=The Canadian Press}}

{{tweet |text=Very alarmed to learn that Samar Badawi, Raif Badawi's sister, has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. Canada stands together with the Badawi family in this difficult time, and we continue to strongly call for the release of both Raif and Samar Badawi. |name=Chrystia Freeland |username=cafreeland |id=1025030172624515072 |date=2 August 2018}}

{{tweet |text=Canada is gravely concerned about additional arrests of civil society and women's rights activists in #SaudiArabia, including Samar Badawi. We urge the Saudi authorities to immediately release them and all other peaceful #humanrights activists. |name=Foreign Policy CAN |username=CanadaFP |id=1025383326960549889|date=3 August 2018}}

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland issued a statement via Twitter on 2 August 2018 expressing Canada's concern over the recent arrest of Samar Badawi, a human rights activist and sister of imprisoned Saudi activist Raif Badawi. Freeland advocated their release. Other Canadian diplomats and the Canadian Embassy in Riyadh later released statements of their own in which they called for the release of all peaceful human rights activists detained in the kingdom.{{cite web |author=Gambrell |first=Jon |date=5 August 2018 |title=Saudi Arabia expels Canadian ambassador, freezes trade in human rights dispute |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/08/05/saudi-arabia-to-expel-canadian-ambassador-and-freeze-trade-in-human-rights-dispute.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824092039/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/08/05/saudi-arabia-to-expel-canadian-ambassador-and-freeze-trade-in-human-rights-dispute.html |archive-date=2018-08-24 |access-date=6 August 2018 |website=Toronto Star |publisher=The Associated Press}}

{{Quote box

|quote = You can criticize us about human rights, women's rights … that's your right. You can sit down and talk about it, but demand the immediate release? What are we, a banana republic? Would any country accept it?

|author = Adel al-Jubeir

|source = Saudi Foreign Minister{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/28/saudi-foreign-minister-demands-canada-stop-treating-it-like-a-banana-republic|title=Saudi foreign minister demands Canada stop treating it like a 'banana republic'|newspaper=The Guardian|date=28 September 2018}}

|width = 25%

}}

In response to Canada's criticism, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs published an official statement in which it "expressed disbelief" in the comments made by Freeland and the Canadian Embassy in Riyadh, which it considered to "not be based [on] any accurate or true information". The ministry went on to denounce the statements as "blatant interference in the Kingdom's domestic affairs".{{cite web|url=https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1793711#1793711|title=Foreign Ministry: negative, surprising attitude of Canada totally false claim|publisher=Saudi Press Agency|date=6 August 2018|access-date=7 August 2018}} The Saudi government suspended all new trade and investment relations with Canada and expelled Canada's ambassador; it named Dennis Horak as persona non grata and gave him 24 hours to leave the country. Saudi Arabia also said it would recall its envoy to Canada temporarily but a statement said the country maintained "its right to take further action".{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/saudi-arabia-expels-canadian-ambassador-after-ottawa-criticizes-arrests-of-saudi-activists/2018/08/06/99df2714-9945-11e8-8d5e-c6c594024954_story.html|title=Saudi Arabia expels Canadian ambassador after Ottawa criticizes arrests of Saudi activists|newspaper=Washington Post|date=6 August 2018|access-date=11 August 2018}}

The Saudi freeze on all new trade with Canada included instructing staff to sell off all Canadian holdings, including equities, bonds and cash even if that means doing so at a loss.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-canada-diplomacy-assets/saudi-arabia-sells-off-canadian-assets-as-dispute-escalates-ft-idUSKBN1KT1OZ|title=Saudi Arabia sells off Canadian assets as dispute escalates: FT|publisher=Thomson-Reuters|date=8 August 2018|access-date=11 August 2018}} Saudi Arabia announced on 8 August that it would put a halt to its medical programs in Canada and move all Saudi patients receiving care in Canadian hospitals to hospitals in other countries.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/08/saudi-arabia-reportedly-stops-all-medical-treatment-programs-in-canada.html|title=Riyadh to transfer all Saudi patients in Canada out of the country|agency=Reuters|publisher=CNBC|date=7 August 2018|access-date=8 August 2018}} By that date, Saudi Arabia had begun selling all its Canadian assets to foreign investors.{{cite news |author=Kerr |first=Simeon |date=8 August 2018 |title=Saudi Arabia sells Canadian assets as dispute escalates |url=https://www.ft.com/content/b33505ba-9aff-11e8-9702-5946bae86e6d |access-date=8 August 2018 |newspaper=Financial Times}}

Saudi students studying in Canada on Saudi Arabian scholarships were ordered to relocate to another country or risk losing financial assistance. Roughly 16,000 students were sponsored by such scholarships at the time of this decree.{{cite web |author=Smith |first=Ainsley |date=7 August 2018 |title=Saudi Arabia orders all of its foreign university students to leave Canada |url=http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/toronto-saudi-arabia-orders-students-canada |access-date=7 August 2018 |work=Daily Hive}} For the 2018–2019 school year, the University of Toronto had 216 postgraduate medical residents and fellows and 77 undergraduate students, while the University of Western Ontario had 75 undergraduate and graduate students.{{cite web| url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/08/16/saudi-renters-forced-to-leave-toronto-face-legal-nightmare-over-leases-advocate-says.html| title=Saudi renters forced to leave Toronto face 'legal nightmare' over leases, advocate says| first=Tamar| last=Harris| date=August 16, 2018| work=Toronto Star}} Western University also created a checklist for the students who have been ordered to leave Canada by 31 August 2018.{{cite web| url=https://iesc.uwo.ca/saudi_students.html| title=Message to Students from Saudi Arabia| access-date=August 17, 2018| archive-date=17 August 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817162433/https://iesc.uwo.ca/saudi_students.html| website=uwo.ca| df=dmy-all}}

The state airline Saudia declared that all its flights to Toronto Pearson International Airport would be terminated as of August 13. Saudia operated regular passenger service to Toronto from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.{{cite news |author=Berlinger |first=Joshua |date=7 August 2018 |title=Saudi Arabia state airline cancels flights to Canada amid growing dispute |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/07/middleeast/saudi-arabia-canada-intl/index.html |access-date=7 August 2018 |publisher=CNN}}{{cite web |author=Embury-Dennis |first=Tom |date=6 August 2018 |title=Saudi Arabia state airline to suspend flights in and out of Toronto amid intensifying diplomatic row with Canada |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-canada-saudia-flights-suspended-toronto-diplomacy-ambassador-a8480366.html |access-date=7 August 2018 |work=The Independent}}

As part of the economic sanctions, the Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) advised that it would no longer accept wheat or barley of Canadian origin. However, an official statement from the Saudi energy minister, Khalid A. Al-Falih indicated that the diplomatic crisis would not impact the sale of oil to Canada by Saudi Aramco.{{cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/saudi-official-says-oil-sales-unaffected-by-dispute-with-canada-1.4045917|title=Saudi official says oil sales unaffected by dispute with Canada|publisher=CTV News|date=9 August 2018|access-date=11 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/saudi-arabia-canada-economic-impact-1.4777407|title=Saudi Arabia to sell off Canadian assets and stop buying Canadian wheat and barley|publisher=CBC News|date=8 August 2018|access-date=11 August 2018}}

In response to suggestions in the news media about the possibility of outside mediation, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on 8 August that his country would not engage in negotiations until Canada retracted its original statement calling for the release of human rights activists.{{cite web |author=Al Wasmi |first=Naser |date=8 August 2018 |title=Al Jubeir: No room for mediation with Canada |url=https://www.thenational.ae/world/gcc/al-jubeir-no-room-for-mediation-with-canada-1.758201 |access-date=11 August 2018 |publisher=The National}} The Toronto Star reported that the consensus among analysts indicated that the actions taken by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman were a "warning to the world — and to Saudi human rights activists — that his Saudi Arabia is not to be trifled with".{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2018/08/10/on-saudi-arabia-canadas-stance-is-principled-but-conflicted.html|title=On Saudi Arabia, Canada's stance is principled — but conflicted|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=10 August 2018|access-date=11 August 2018}}

In an interview with the CBC, Iyad el-Baghdadi, President of the Al-Kawakibi Democracy Transition Center (an NGO) made this prediction as to the future of the relationship between the two countries. "Mohammad bin Salman has a tendency to start large actions that end up as quagmires, and I think unfortunately this is going to last for a while", and noted that while this was the first time Saudi Arabia had reacted this way to a Western country, such reactions from Saudi Arabia had become "routine within the region".{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/episode-402-saudi-trolls-vs-canada-alex-jones-s-precarious-empire-losing-earth-pampered-poultry-and-more-1.4777781/et-tu-quoque-trudeau-how-saudi-trolls-slammed-canada-in-a-diplomatic-spat-1.4777792|title=Et tu quoque, Trudeau? How Saudi trolls slammed Canada in a diplomatic spat|publisher=CBC News|date=10 August 2018|access-date=11 August 2018}}

On 27 August, the Saudi Ministry of Education informed the 1,053 Saudi medical residents and fellows in Canada that they can "continue in their positions" and they no longer have to leave Canada by 31 August.{{cite web| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-more-than-1000-saudi-medical-trainees-to-be-allowed-to-stay-in-canada/| title=Saudi Arabia allows medical trainees to stay in Canada| first1=André| last1=Picard|author-link=André Picard (journalist)| first2=Carly| last2=Weeks| website=theglobeandmail.com| date=27 August 2018}}

According to the Canadian network Global News, Saudi state-owned television Al Arabiya "has suggested that Canada is the worst country in the world for women, that it has the highest suicide rate and that it treats its Indigenous people the way Myanmar treats the Rohingya – a Muslim minority massacred and driven out of Myanmar en masse" which was described by Global News as "fake news" published by the Saudi television outlet.{{cite news |title=Here's the fake news Saudi Arabia is playing about Canada |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4386816/saudi-arabia-fake-news-canada/ |work=Global News |date=15 August 2018}}

There was some question as to how the Saudi sell-off would affect Canada's economy; year to date, Canada had exported C$1.4 billion in goods to Saudi Arabia, according to Statistics Canada.{{cite news |author= |date=10 August 2018 |title=Saudi Arabia warns of further retaliation against Canada |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/s-arabia-warns-of-further-retaliation-against-canada |access-date=10 August 2018 |newspaper=Straits Times |agency=Bloomberg L.P.}} Middle East expert Rex Brynen of McGill University predicted that negative short-term economic effects were possible, but that the strategy would "mostly hurt Saudi-owned firms".{{cite web |author=Russel |first=Andrew |date=8 August 2018 |title=How Saudi Arabia selling Canadian assets could affect our economy |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4376687/saudi-arabia-canadian-assets-sale/ |access-date=10 August 2018 |website=Global News |publisher=}} Canadian grain farmers were concerned, however. The president of Cereals Canada said that barley trade especially would be affected since Saudi Arabia accounted for seven per cent of the annual exports; wheat sales were much more modest. An analyst with LeftField Commodity Research said in an interview with Reuters that "there will be plenty of opportunities for Canada to sell barley and wheat elsewhere". Global supplies of grain were already becoming tighter due to weather-related issues in Russia, Europe, and Australia. The former Canadian Wheat Board, now G3, is partly owned by the Saudi Arabian agriculture company SALIC.{{cite news |author= |date=7 August 2018 |title=Saudi Arabian agency stops buying Canadian wheat, barley |url=https://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCAKBN1KS20N-OCADN |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810174504/https://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCAKBN1KS20N-OCADN |archive-date=10 August 2018 |access-date=10 August 2018 |work=Reuters}}{{cite web |author=Ayers |first=Kate |date=9 August 2018 |title=Saudi Arabia halts Canadian grain imports |url=https://www.farms.com/ag-industry-news/saudi-arabia-halts-canadian-grain-imports-678.aspx |access-date=10 August 2018 |publisher=Farms.com}}

The value of the Canadian dollar dropped slightly, but, on 8 August, it reached its highest level in over seven weeks due to data indicating economic growth and record high exports in recent months.{{cite news |author=Smith |first=Fergal |date=8 August 2018 |title=Canadian dollar rebounds from two-week low as investors look past Saudi dispute |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-canadian-dollar-hits-two-week-low-after-report-of-saudi-arabia-asset/ |access-date=10 August 2018 |newspaper=The Globe and Mail}} The total impact of the Saudi sell-off on Canadian currency should be "ephemeral" according to Bipan Rai, executive director and North America Head of FX Strategy at CIBC Capital Markets.{{cite news |author=Onoszko |first=Maciej |last2=Algethami |first2=Sarah |date=8 August 2018 |title=Canadian dollar whipsaws as row with Saudi Arabia escalates |url=https://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/spat-with-saudi-arabia-intensifies-whipsawing-the-canadian-dollar |access-date=10 August 2018 |newspaper=Financial Post}}

The 800 to 1000 medical trainees sponsored by Saudi Arabia, who were at the Resident and Fellow level, were providing direct care to Canadian patients at no cost to the healthcare system. Hospitals were uncertain as to how these services could be replaced if the trainees were to leave Canada. As of late August 2018, they were allowed to remain until "an alternative assignment can be arranged", according to the Saudi Ministry of Education.{{cite news |author=Grant |first=Kelly |last2=Hauen |first2=Jack |date=8 August 2018 |title=Canadian teaching hospitals facing withdrawal as Saudi Arabia recalls sponsored students |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-canadian-teaching-hospitals-scrambling-to-resolve-how-saudi-student/ |access-date=5 September 2018 |newspaper=The Globe and Mail}}{{cite web |date=28 August 2018 |title=Saudi medical trainees allowed to stay in Canada, for now |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/saudi-canada-trainees-medical-recall-stay-1.4801574 |access-date=5 September 2018 |publisher=CBC}}{{cite news |date=28 August 2018 |title=Saudi Arabia allows medical trainees to stay in Canada |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-more-than-1000-saudi-medical-trainees-to-be-allowed-to-stay-in-canada/ |access-date=5 September 2018 |newspaper=Globe and Mail}}

A Saudi Arabian youth organization named "Infographic KSA" uploaded an image to Twitter on 6 August of a passenger plane flying towards the CN Tower in the skyline of Toronto. It was widely perceived as a threat of a terrorist attack by Western media as an allusion to the September 11 attacks in which 15 of the 19 hijackers were citizens of Saudi Arabia. The group immediately deleted the post and released a public apology to "those who were offended", explaining that the picture was not meant to represent a terrorist attack and was instead meant to symbolize Canadian ambassador Dennis Horak's flight back to Canada.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/saudi-arabian-group-apologizes-for-posting-image-appearing-to-threaten-canada-with-9-11-style-attack-1.4775509|title=Saudi Arabian group apologizes for posting image showing plane heading towards CN Tower|publisher=CBC News|access-date=6 August 2018|language=en-US}} The Ministry of Culture and Information of Saudi Arabia launched an investigation into the incident and ordered the group to suspend its Twitter account.{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/world-economy/saudi-state-airline-saudia-has-declared-it-will-suspend-flights-to-and-from-toronto/news-story/786bd2fc0f885207f9f5fc50ead33456|title='Unacceptable': Outrage over Saudi tweet|publisher=Reuters, The Associated Press|website=news.com.au|date=7 August 2018|access-date=7 August 2018}}

Foreign Minister Freeland responded to the expulsion of Ambassador Horak at a press conference on 6 August. "Canada will always stand up for human rights in Canada and around the world, and women's rights are human rights."{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-canada-diplomacy-freeland/amid-saudi-arabia-dispute-canada-says-will-always-defend-human-rights-idUSKBN1KR20S|title=Amid Saudi Arabia dispute, Canada says will always defend human rights|work=Reuters|location=Ottawa|date=6 August 2018}}

On 8 August, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters that he refused to apologize for his country's involvement in promoting human rights, saying that "Canadians have always expected our government to speak strongly, firmly and politely about the need to respect human rights around the world" and that Canada will continue to "speak strongly, firmly and politely" about this issue. "We will continue to stand up for Canadian values and human rights. It's something that I will always do", he added.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-fix-big-mistake-saudi-foreign-minister-1.4777438|title=Trudeau rebuffs Saudi call for an apology as diplomatic spat escalates|first=John Paul|last=Tasker|publisher=CBC News|date=8 August 2018|access-date=11 August 2018}}

In another comment about the "diplomatic difference of opinion", Trudeau said his country would continue a relationship with Saudi Arabia. "We have respect for their importance in the world and recognize that they have made progress on a number of important issues.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/canada-saudi-arabia-support-us|title='We don't have a single friend': Canada's Saudi spat reveals country is alone|newspaper=The Guardian|date=11 August 2018|access-date=11 August 2018}}

Former Conservative minister of foreign affairs John Baird appeared on Saudi Al Arabiya television to comment on the dispute and urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to fly to Riyadh to apologize in person to the Saudi royal family. Baird was working as a consultant and has business interests in Saudi Arabia at the time he made the comments,{{cite news| url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/this-has-not-been-a-good-hour-for-canada-john-baird-slams-trudeau-government-on-saudi-state-tv| title='This has not been a good hour for Canada': John Baird slams Trudeau government on Saudi state TV| first=Tristin| last=Hopper| date=August 14, 2018| newspaper=National Post}} but in January 2015 while minister of foreign affairs in the Harper government, he had also protested Raif Badawi's case to the Saudis, specifically with Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, a prominent member of the Saud family.{{cite web| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/raif-badawi-john-baird-protests-blogger-flogging-to-saudi-prince-1.2929233|title=Raif Badawi: John Baird protests blogger flogging to Saudi prince| date=January 25, 2015| access-date=August 14, 2018| publisher=CBC News}} A New Democratic Party member of Parliament, Charlie Angus called the appearance "stunning" and suggested that the ethics commissioner should investigate the incident.{{cite web| url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/08/16/the-ethics-of-john-bairds-saudi-intervention.html| title=The ethics of John Baird's Saudi intervention| first=Charlie| last=Angus| date=August 16, 2018| work=Toronto Star}}

After the incident, the Saudi government has received official backing from the vast majority of the Arab League, while Canada received support from some members of the European Parliament. The day after Saudi Arabia downgraded ties, Yemen's Hadi government,{{cite web|url=https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1794101#1794101|title=Yemen supports kingdom against any prejudice to its sovereignty|publisher=Saudi Press Agency|date=6 August 2018|access-date=8 August 2018}} the United Arab Emirates{{cite web|url=https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1794050|title=UAE Expresses Solidarity with Saudi Arabia against Any Foreign Interference in Its Domestic Affairs|publisher=Saudi Press Agency|date=6 August 2018|access-date=11 August 2018}} and Bahrain{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-canada-diplomacy-bahrain/bahrain-says-supports-saudi-arabia-in-rights-row-with-canada-idUSKBN1KR0RO|title=Bahrain says supports Saudi Arabia in rights row with Canada|work=Reuters|date=6 August 2018|access-date=11 August 2018}} expressed support to Saudi Arabia.

The Arab Interior Ministers Council and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) secretary general Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in a statement expressing GCC reaction, condemned any interference in Saudi Arabia's sovereignty.{{cite web |author=Vomiero |first=Jessica |date=6 August 2018 |title=Arab states back Saudi Arabia in expelling Canadian ambassador over human rights dispute |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4372854/arab-states-back-saudi-arabia-canadian-dispute/ |access-date=6 August 2018 |publisher=Global News}} However, Qatar, a GCC member, distanced itself from the remarks made by Al Zayani and stated that his comments "do not reflect its opinion" while mentioning that it maintains cordial relations with Canada.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.net/news/arabic/2018/8/6/%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%A3%D9%89-%D8%A8%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B3%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A3%D8%B2%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%83%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7|title=قطر تنأى بنفسها عن أزمة السعودية وكندا|publisher=Al Jazeera Arabic|language=ar|date=6 August 2018|access-date=6 August 2018}}

Several countries indicated support for the measures taken by Saudi Arabia on 7 August, including the Palestinian Authority,{{cite web|url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/250150|title=Abbas backs Saudi Arabia|publisher=Arutz Sheva|date=7 August 2018|access-date=8 August 2018}} Jordan,{{cite web|url=https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1794494|title=Jordan Emphasizes KSA Right to Apply National Laws, Regulations|publisher=Saudi Press Agency|date=7 August 2018|access-date=8 August 2018}} Djibouti,{{cite web|url=https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1794283|title=Djibouti Strongly Condemns Canadian Intervention in KSA Internal Affairs|publisher=Saudi Press Agency|date=7 August 2018|access-date=8 August 2018}} Mauritania,{{cite web|url=https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1794114|title=Mauritania expresses full solidarity with kingdom against any interference in its internal affairs|publisher=Saudi Press Agency|date=7 August 2018|access-date=8 August 2018}} and Sudan.{{cite web|url=https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1794464#1794464|title=Sudan expresses full solidarity with the Kingdom against any interference in its internal affairs|publisher=Saudi Press Agency|date=7 August 2018|access-date=8 August 2018}} On 8 August, three more countries professed solidarity with the Saudi position: Egypt,{{cite web|url=https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1794554|title=Egypt confirms solidarity with kingdom in position rejecting any external interference in internal affairs|publisher=Saudi Press Agency|date=8 August 2018|access-date=8 August 2018}} Comoros,{{cite web|url=https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1794441|title=Comoros Stresses Rejecting Canadian Interference, in KSA Internal Affairs, based on Fake Pretext to Defend HRs|publisher=Saudi Press Agency|date=8 August 2018|access-date=8 August 2018}} and Lebanon.{{cite web|url=http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/55550/Hariri-Lebanon-supports-Saudi-stance-in-Riyadh-Ottawa-diplomatic-row|title=Hariri: Lebanon supports Saudi stance in Riyadh, Ottawa diplomatic row|publisher=Egypt Today|date=8 August 2018|access-date=8 August 2018}} Russia was critical of Canada, with Maria Zakharova of the Russian Foreign Ministry criticizing Canada for "politicizing human rights".{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/russia-chides-canada-over-row-saudi-arabia-150540878.html|title=Russia chides Canada over row with Saudi Arabia|agency=Reuters|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=8 August 2018|access-date=8 August 2018}} Official support for the Saudi position was also expressed by Pakistan.{{cite web|url=https://arynews.tv/en/pakistan-backs-saudi-arabia-diplomatic-tussle-canada/|title=Pakistan backs Saudi Arabia in diplomatic tussle with Canada|agency=ARY News|date=9 August 2018|access-date=24 August 2018}} and Somalia.{{cite news|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201808090426.html|date=9 August 2018|agency=Radio Dalsan|title=Somalia Backs Saudi Arabia in Canada Diplomatic Row|work=allAfrica}}{{subscription required}} Oman and Kuwait reprimanded Canada for what they considered meddling, but also conveyed their desires for hasty resolution of the dispute.{{cite web |author=McLoughlin |first=Paul |date=7 August 2018 |title=Oman and Kuwait go gently into Saudi Arabia and Canada dispute |url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2018/8/8/oman-and-kuwait-go-gently-into-saudi-canada-dispute |access-date=8 August 2018 |publisher=The New Arab}}

Canada's NATO ally Turkey backed Saudi Arabia in its dispute with Canada, rejecting the Canadian actions as a "form of interference in other countries' internal affairs".{{cite news|work=Anadolu Agency|title=Turkish, Saudi foreign ministers discuss ties|date=10 August 2018|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkish-saudi-foreign-ministers-discuss-ties/1227953}} The United States declared that it would not get involved in the dispute.{{cite web |author=Chase |first=Steven |date=7 August 2018 |title=U.S. refuses to back Canada in Saudi Arabia dispute |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-us-sidesteps-getting-involved-in-escalating-saudi-canada-dispute/ |access-date=8 August 2018 |work=The Globe and Mail}} State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said: "It is up for the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Canadians to work this out. Both sides need to diplomatically resolve this together. We cannot do it for them."{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/canada-saudi-arabia-support-us | title='We don't have a single friend': Canada's Saudi spat reveals country is alone | work=The Guardian | date=August 11, 2018}}

Sources told Reuters on 6 August that Canada was seeking help from its allies the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates to defuse the diplomatic dispute.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-canada-diplomacy/canada-to-ask-allies-to-help-cool-saudi-dispute-u-s-offers-no-aid-idUSKBN1KS23G|title=Canada to ask allies to help cool Saudi dispute; U.S. offers no aid|work=Reuters|access-date=10 August 2018}} The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office urged restraint from both sides of the dispute and said that it had raised its concerns about the recent arrest of human rights defenders to the Saudi Arabian government.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/402353-uae-arab-league-voice-support-for-saudi-arabia-in-canada-dispute|title=UAE, Arab League voice support for Saudi Arabia in Canada dispute|date=7 August 2018|magazine=Arabian Business|access-date=11 August 2018}} A Bloomberg article on 10 August cited an unnamed "senior U.S. official" as stating that unspecified persons were trying to do behind-the-scenes damage control.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-saudi-arabia-canadia-20180810-story.html|title=It's open season in Saudi Arabia on everything Canadian|date=11 August 2018|magazine=Arabian Business|access-date=10 August 2018}} It is believed that the Canadian government received support from the British, German and Swedish governments through back-channels.{{cite news|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2018/8/8/oman-and-kuwait-go-gently-into-saudi-canada-dispute|title=The Saudi Arabia-Canada Feud, Explained|date=9 August 2018|publisher=Atlantic Council|access-date=11 August 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180811-canada-seeks-help-from-allies-to-end-tension-with-saudi-arabia/|title=Canada seeks help from allies to end tension with Saudi Arabia|date=11 August 2018|publisher=Memo|access-date=11 August 2018}}

Saudi Arabia is Canada's 17th largest trading partner.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-saudi-arabia-canada-spat-what-we-know-so-far/|title=Saudi Arabia-Canada spat: What we know so far|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=7 August 2018|access-date=9 August 2018}} Saudi Arabia imported $1.5 billion worth of Canadian goods in 2015 according to the World Bank.{{Cite web|url=https://wits.worldbank.org/CountryProfile/en/Country/SAU/Year/2015/TradeFlow/Import/Partner/CAN/Product/All-Groups|title=Saudi Arabia {{!}} Product {{!}} Imports {{!}} from Canada 2015 {{!}} WITS {{!}} Data|website=wits.worldbank.org|language=en|access-date=6 August 2018}} Canada imported $1.5 billion worth of Saudi goods in 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://wits.worldbank.org/CountryProfile/en/Country/CAN/Year/2015/TradeFlow/Import/Partner/SAU/Product/All-Groups|title=Canada {{!}} Product {{!}} Imports {{!}} from Saudi Arabia 2015 {{!}} WITS {{!}} Data|website=wits.worldbank.org|language=en|access-date=6 August 2018}}

From the end of 2012 until the middle of 2018, Saudi Arabia had become Canada's second largest export market in the Middle East.{{cite web|url=http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/saudi_arabia-arabie_saoudite/bilateral_relations_bilaterales/canada-saudi_arabia-arabie_saoudite.aspx?lang=eng|title=Canada-Saudi Arabia Relations|date=26 August 2021 |publisher=Government of Canada}} Much like Israel, most of the success of the former Canadian-Saudi relations was attributable to opposition to Iran and other countries in the region. On the bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia, economic and trade interests used to be at the forefront of all discussions and meetings.

Several private Islamic schools in Canada have been directly financed by Saudi Arabia to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. This has proved controversial, with detractors claiming that these schools can be used to propagate Saudi Arabia's strict form of Islam known as Wahhabism.{{cite news |author=Freeze |first=Colin |author2=Chowdhry |first2=Affan |date=1 July 2015 |title=Saudi government funding private Islamic schools in Canada, documents show |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/saudi-government-funding-private-islamic-schools-in-canada-docs-show/article25223573/ |access-date=7 August 2018 |newspaper=The Globe and Mail}}

During the Gulf War, both Canadian and Saudi forces cooperated with the coalition forces to quell the invasion of Kuwait and the advancement of the Iraqi military. In February 1991, Canada opened up a field hospital in Saudi Arabia in the north-eastern village of Qaisumah to treat both coalition and Iraqi troops.{{cite web|url=http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/canadian-armed-forces/persian-gulf|title=The Canadian Armed Forces and the Gulf War|publisher=Veteran Affairs Canada|access-date=7 August 2018}}

Both countries reached in an agreement in February 2014 under which Saudi Arabia would purchase C$15 billion worth of military equipment from Canada. According to the CBC, this deal included 928 light armoured vehicles, specifically, a model known as LAV-6. Among these LAV-6s, 119 were categorized as heavy assault. Also included under this deal is a 14-year provision of technical assistance. This deal solidified Saudi Arabia as the second-largest export destination for Canadian arms after the US.{{cite web|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2018/8/6/Explainer-Saudi-Canada-relations-before-Riyadhs-diplomatic-spat|title=Explainer: Saudi-Canada relations before Riyadh's diplomatic spat|publisher=The New Arab|date=6 August 2018|access-date=8 August 2018}} The CBC reported that the first shipment of vehicles would arrive in Saudi Arabia by 2017.{{cite web |author=Brewster |first=Murray |date=19 March 2018 |title=Canada's arms deal with Saudi Arabia includes 'heavy assault' vehicles |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-saudi-arms-deal-1.4579772 |access-date=7 August 2018 |publisher=CBC}}

Although the deal was penned by Stephen Harper's Conservative government, Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave the go-ahead for the deal to proceed in April 2016 when he assigned permits allowing for the export of the vehicles. When Trudeau was confronted about the possibility of Saudi Arabia using the vehicles against its civilian population, he stated that he was obliged to respect the deal made by his predecessor.{{cite news |author=Chase |first=Steven |date=11 May 2016 |title=Canada must 'stick to its word' on Saudi arms deal, Trudeau says |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-must-stick-to-its-word-on-saudi-arms-deal-trudeau-says/article29981571/ |access-date=7 August 2018 |newspaper=The Globe and Mail}} In August 2017, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland initiated an investigation into Saudi usage of Canadian-made vehicles and in February 2018 the investigative team concluded that there was no definitive evidence that Saudi Arabia had ever inflicted human rights abuses using vehicles originating from Canada.{{cite web |author=Marquis |first=Melanie |date=8 February 2018 |title=No evidence Saudis used Canadian-made armoured vehicles in human rights abuses: Freeland |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4014830/no-evidence-canadian-lavs-used-by-saudis/ |access-date=9 August 2018 |publisher=Global News}}

This deal immediately came under fire from numerous Canadian politicians and news outlets who believed that the vehicles may be misused by Saudi Arabia to commit human rights violations, particularly against its minority Shiite population.{{cite news |author=Kassam |first=Ashifa |date=21 March 2018 |title=Justin Trudeau defends Canada's arms sales to Saudi Arabia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/21/justin-trudeau-defends-canada-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia |access-date=7 August 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian}} Furthermore, when Saudi Arabia invaded Yemen in 2015, questions were raised over whether the vehicles would be used against Yemeni civilians.

A panel of independent experts monitoring the Yemen conflict for United Nations, included the name of Canada in their report for the period ending in June, 2020, in fueling the war in Yemen by selling weapons to Saudi Arabia that were later used in the Yemen war causing the biggest humanitarian crisis. In response, a letter dated 17 September was sent to Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by 39 human rights, arms-control and labor groups, urging to stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia.{{cite news |last1=Chase |first1=Steven |date=17 September 2020 |title=Trudeau urged to end arms exports to Saudi Arabia after Canada cited for fueling Yemen war |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-trudeau-urged-to-end-arms-exports-to-saudi-arabia-after-canada-cited/ |access-date=17 September 2020 |website=The Globe And Mail}}

On 1 March 2021, Canada-Wide Peace and Justice Network wrote an open letter to the Canadian PM, urging the government to end its arms sales to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to the latter's role in Yemen war. The letter was also undersigned by a total of 68 organizations, who also called out the Canadian government to increase its humanitarian aid to Yemen. In 2021, the Minister of International Development pledged a $69.9 million worth of humanitarian aid to Yemen. However, according to human rights groups the government has also sanctioned arms sale worth $6 billion since 2015 and $2.7 billion in 2019 to Saudi Arabia.{{cite web|title=Protestors call for an end to arms sales to Saudi Arabia|url=https://nowtoronto.com/news/activists-protest-arms-shipments-to-saudi-arabia|access-date=7 March 2021|website=Now Toronto|date=7 March 2021 }}{{cite web|title=Re: End Canada's support of the war on Yemen and ongoing weapons exports to SaudiArabia|url=https://peaceandjusticenetwork.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Letter-to-Trudeau-Stop-Arming-SA-March-1-2021-2.pdf|access-date=1 March 2021|website=Peace and Justice Network}}

The embassy of Saudi Arabia helps organize annual Saudi National Day celebrations in Ottawa; in collaboration with the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in Canada.{{cite web|url=https://www.saudibureau.org/en/inside.php?ID=24|title=Fast Facts|publisher=Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in Canada|access-date=9 August 2018|archive-date=25 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525102518/https://www.saudibureau.org/en/inside.php?ID=24}}

The Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in Canada (SACB) whose head of mission is the Saudi Arabian cultural attaché, launched in May 1978 as a subsidiary of the Saudi Ministry of Education and is responsible for the management of Saudi students in Canada. One of its most important departments is its academic relations unit, which controls the submission of important documents to Canadian universities, such as transcripts and admission documents, and is also active in organizing official visits and signing cooperative agreements. Other departments of the SACB include an English language preparation unit and an admissions unit, which provides enrolment advice to Saudi students and monitors the status of admissions.{{cite web|url=https://www.saudibureau.org/en/inside.php?ID=5|title=The Department of Academic Relations and Admissions|publisher=Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in Canada|access-date=9 August 2018|archive-date=25 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525033618/https://www.saudibureau.org/en/inside.php?ID=5}}

There were more than 15,000 Saudi students in Canada in 2007, including 800 resident physicians and specialists who provided care to the Canadian population, offsetting Canadian aid to Saudis.{{cite web|url=http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/middle_east/saudi_arabia_relations-en.asp|title=CANADA-SAUDI ARABIA RELATIONS|date=9 May 2007|publisher=Canadian Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621232706/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/middle_east/saudi_arabia_relations-en.asp|archive-date=21 June 2008|access-date=4 April 2009}} In 2015, Saudi Arabian students represented 3% of total foreign students in Canada.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/international-students-jump-1.4268786|title=Brexit, Trump election drive university students to Canada, but will they stay here? {{!}} CBC News|work=CBC|access-date=6 August 2018|language=en-US}} Official figures provided by the SACB indicated that in 2014 there were 16,000 Saudi scholarship students in Canada and 1,000 medical trainees.

In mid 2018, most educational ties were downgraded.

File:SaudiEmbassyOttawa.jpg in Ottawa. Both countries maintain an embassy in the other's capital.]]

Both countries maintain an embassy in the other's respective capital cities, with the embassy of Saudi Arabia to Canada based in Ottawa, and the embassy of Canada based in Riyadh.

In a meeting held in Ottawa in December 2015, Canada's minister of foreign affairs Stéphane Dion met with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir to discuss matters pertaining to human rights in Saudi Arabia. During the meeting, the Saudi government's detainment of human rights activist Raif Badawi was brought up.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/raif-badawi-st%C3%A9phane-dion-1.3370658|title=Raif Badawi's case raised by Stéphane Dion with Saudi counterpart|publisher=CBC|date=17 December 2015|access-date=7 August 2018}}

Following the 2016 Saudi Arabia mass execution in which 47 civilians convicted of terrorism were executed, Stéphane Dion requested that Saudi Arabia respect due process and to follow international norms in regards to human rights.{{cite web |author=Blanchfield |first=Mike |date=7 January 2016 |title=Justin Trudeau advised to deepen ties with Saudi Arabia, brace for change in Iran |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-advised-to-deepen-ties-with-saudi-arabia-brace-for-change-in-iran-1.3394669 |access-date=7 August 2018 |publisher=CBC}}

Global Affairs Canada also voiced concerns over the possibility that these executions could renew sectarian friction in the Middle East.{{cite web |author=Nielsen |first=Kevin |date=3 January 2016 |title=Federal government denounces mass executions in Saudi Arabia |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/2431104/federal-government-denounces-mass-execution-in-saudi-arabia/ |access-date=7 August 2018 |publisher=Global News}}

In May 2023, Canada and Saudi Arabia restored their diplomatic ties.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-28 |title=Canada and Saudi Arabia diplomatic ties resume – RUTV News |url=https://rutvnews.com/saudi-canada-relations |access-date=2023-05-28 |language=en-US}}

• List of ambassadors of Canada to Saudi Arabia
• Foreign relations of Canada
• Foreign relations of Saudi Arabia
• Human rights in Saudi Arabia
• Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Ottawa
• Saudi Canadians

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{{Foreign relations of Canada}}

{{Foreign relations of Saudi Arabia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Canada-Saudi Arabia relations}}

Saudi Arabia

Category:Bilateral relations of Saudi Arabia