In addition to breaking diplomatic ties, the two governments have also suspended new trade and investment between the countries
Citing interference in its internal affairs, Saudi Arabia announced earlier this week that it has expelled Canada’s ambassador to Riyadh and has recalled the kingdom’s envoy from Ottawa. Both governments also suspended all new trade and investment between the two countries.
The deterioration in diplomatic relations was triggered when the Canadian embassy declared it was “deeply concerned” about the “arrests of civil society activists and women’s rights activists in the kingdom.” It called on the Saudi authorities for their immediate release.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry responded that “the Canadian position is a clear interference in the internal affairs of the kingdom and contrary to basic international norms. It’s an unacceptable transgression of the kingdom’s systems.”
In addition, the Saudi Foreign Ministry added that the arrests of “those mentioned by Canada,” came on orders from a “competent authority, the Public Prosecution” involving criminal charges that called for their detention.
Qasem Qaseer, a Lebanese political analyst, told The Media Line that the rift between Saudi Arabia and Canada was not over human rights only, explaining that Riyadh’s “swift” cutting of ties with Ottawa was a result of deeper issues.
“Why did Canada decide to defend the human rights of Saudis?” Qaseer queried. “Why does it choose certain cases to criticize while completely ignoring other cases like violations of the Palestinians’ basic rights?” He added that the dispute looks odd when there are major human rights abuses throughout the Middle East.
Moreover, Qaseer pointed to the “strong” cooperation and coordination between Saudi Arabia and the United States on the one hand, while on the other, we see growing tension between the U.S. and Canada.
“The rapid Saudi reaction seemed intended to please the U.S.,” Qaseer said. “Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is aiming to please the American administration in any way possible, even under the title of defending the kingdom’s sovereignty.”
The U.S. and Canada trade is one of the largest between trading partners. And while their political positions are usually identical, economic tensions have surfaced following the Trump administration’s decision to impose taxes on steel and aluminum imports from Canada. The move led to pointed exchanges between U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian President Justin Trudeau.
“When Washington heavily criticized Riyadh this year over human rights violations, we didn’t see any an angry and strict reaction from the kingdom.”
In April, the U.S. State Department issued a report condemning human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia, noting the continued and arbitrary arrests of civilian activists and the restrictions on freedom of expression. According to the report, the Saudi human rights violations also extended to executions without due process, torture, and the detention of lawyers and jurists. The State Department also highlighted Saudi airstrikes in Yemen that killed many civilians in the fight between the Saudi-backed government and the Houthi rebels.
Sulaiman al-Oqaily, a Saudi political analyst, told The Media Line that “the Saudi government worries that any involvement in its internal affairs might affect the kingdom’s security and stability.”
Recalling how Riyadh dealt with previous incidents of countries trying to intervene in its politics, al-Oqaily said that observers “would notice the same severity.”
Furthermore, he mentioned that Saudi Arabia had cut aid to several Islamic groups for their interference in the internal affairs of some European countries, adding that these decisions stem from the Saudi government’s “respect for the sovereignty of other countries.”
As the diplomatic row continues, the Canadian government affirmed that it would not abandon its efforts to protect human rights in the kingdom.
Bahrain was the first Arab country to announce its solidarity with Saudi Arabia, followed by Manama, the United Arab Emirates and Palestine.
In addition, the Arab Parliament and the Islamic World League condemned Canada for interfering in Saudi Arabia’s internal affairs and affirmed the kingdom’s right to take whatever action it deemed appropriate.