Saudi Arabia and Canada Restore Full Diplomatic Relations After 5-Year Hiatus

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Canada announced Wednesday that they have restored full diplomatic relations, ending a five-year rift that began when Canada criticized the kingdom’s human rights record.

The announcement came after discussions between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in Bangkok in November 2022.

In a statement released by the Canadian government, it was declared that the decision had been made to reinstate the diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia to their previous state. 

Canada has appointed a new ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jean-Philippe Linteau.”

The Saudi foreign ministry confirmed the development in a separate statement, saying, “It has been decided to restore the level of diplomatic relations with Canada to its previous state.”

The dispute between the two countries began in 2018, when Canada’s foreign ministry tweeted a call for the release of women’s rights activists who had been detained in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia responded by expelling Canada’s ambassador and imposing a number of economic sanctions.

The restoration of diplomatic relations is a significant development, as it could help to improve relations between the two countries. Canada and Saudi Arabia have a number of shared interests, including trade and security.

The announcement of the restoration of diplomatic relations comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is seeking to improve its image on the world stage. The kingdom has been under pressure from the international community to improve its human rights record.

The restoration of diplomatic relations with Canada is a positive step for Saudi Arabia, as it could help to improve the kingdom’s image and make it more attractive to investors.