{"id":1613,"date":"2026-07-12T10:06:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T10:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1613"},"modified":"2026-07-12T10:06:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T10:06:10","slug":"canadas-carney-defends-his-visit-to-saudi-arabia-and-slams-criticism-from-afar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1613","title":{"rendered":"Canada\u2019s Carney defends his visit to Saudi Arabia and slams criticism from afar"},"content":{"rendered":"
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TORONTO (AP) \u2014 Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney defended his trip to Saudi Arabia<\/span> despite its poor human rights record and said on Thursday, during his visit to the kingdom<\/span> that publicly condemning countries from afar is \u201can ineffective strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n

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During the visit \u2014 the first by a Canadian leader to Saudi Arabia<\/span> in 26 years \u2014 Carney met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom\u2019s de facto ruler. <\/p>\n

Carney has been seeking to expand his country\u2019s economic ties<\/span> beyond its heavy reliance on the United States, and diversify trade and attract investments against the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s tariffs and threats<\/span> to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. <\/p>\n

\u201cLecturing countries from afar is an ineffective strategy,\u201d Carney told reporters in the Saudi city of Jeddah. \u201cIt\u2019s satisfying, but it\u2019s ineffective.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stressed that engagement \u201cdoesn\u2019t mean that we agree with everything that a country is doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saudi Arabia\u2019s human rights record drew global scrutiny after the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi<\/span>. A U.S. intelligence assessment concluded Prince Mohammed likely approved the operation, which Saudi Arabia denies.<\/p>\n

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In Jeddah, Carney also said that the world is becoming more dangerous and divided and that Canada must expand its partnerships elsewhere, beyond the U.S., its largest trading partner.<\/p>\n

The visit contrasts with the approach by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose government publicly criticized Saudi Arabia\u2019s human rights record in 2018, triggering a diplomatic rift that lasted five years.<\/p>\n

The criticism prompted Riyadh to expel Canada\u2019s ambassador, suspend new trade and investment and recall thousands of Saudi students. The countries restored full diplomatic relations in 2023.<\/p>\n

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Carney said he cares deeply about human rights and Canadian consular cases, citing a case he said he raised with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan<\/span> during a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey\u2019s capital this week.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I was with the president, it was addressed favorably. If I sat in Ottawa … I wouldn\u2019t have had that conversation. I wouldn\u2019t have had that impact. That\u2019s a small example,\u201d Carney said. <\/p>\n

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Canada\u2019s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, who accompanied Carney to Saudi Arabia, said she also raised human rights and consular cases during her meetings. <\/p>\n

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