Last Update: May 25, 2023, 00:53 IST
On Wednesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said the two countries would appoint new ambassadors. (Image: Reuters)
The decision, also announced by Canada’s foreign ministry, came after talks between Mohammed bin Salman and Canadian PM Trudeau last year
Saudi Arabia and Canada will restore full diplomatic ties, the kingdom said on Wednesday after a 2018 controversy over human rights saw Riyadh expel its ambassador to Ottawa and block new trade.
The decision, which was also announced by Canada’s foreign ministry, came after talks between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum summit in Bangkok. .
“It has been decided to restore the level of diplomatic relations with Canada to its previous status,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
In 2018, the Saudi government expelled Canada’s ambassador and recalled its own envoy in Ottawa, while freezing all new trade over loud calls for the release of jailed activists in the kingdom.
On Wednesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said the two countries would “appoint new ambassadors”.
Saudi Arabia made no mention of its selection for the ambassador.
The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the reconciliation was based on “the desire of both sides to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries on the basis of mutual respect and common interests”.
The latest announcement follows a frantic stretch of high-stakes Saudi diplomacy triggered by the kingdom’s surprise Chinese-brokered synergy deal with Iran announced in March.
Since then, Saudi Arabia has restored bilateral ties with Syria and pushed for peace in Yemen, where it leads a military coalition against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Saudi Arabia is also hosting representatives of Sudan’s two warring generals, and, along with the US, mediated a seven-day humanitarian ceasefire, which took effect on Monday.
– Rights record –
Saudi Arabia is the world’s leading crude oil exporter.
In 2021, Canadian exports to Saudi Arabia represent $2.2 billion and imports $2.4 billion, according to official figures from the Government of Canada.
The government said Canada’s imports consist almost entirely of oil and petrochemicals.
The 2018 row erupted in the wake of a Saudi crackdown on women’s rights activists.
Canada said at the time that it was “gravely concerned” at the new wave of arrests of rights campaigners, including award-winning women’s rights activist Samar Badawi, and called on Riyadh to “release them immediately”.
Even as Saudi Arabia instigates sweeping social and economic changes as part of its “Vision 2030” reform agenda, human rights remain a concern for critics.
In recent months, Saudi Arabia has been criticized for decades-long prison terms handed down to two women who tweeted and retweeted posts critical of the government.
In 2022, Saudi Arabia will execute a total of 147 people – more than double the 2021 figure of 69, according to an AFP tally.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – AFP,
