AFP: Saudi Arabia and Canada will restore full diplomatic relations, the kingdom said Wednesday, following a 2018 dispute over human rights that saw Riyadh expel Ottawa’s ambassador and freeze new trade.
The decision, also announced by Canada’s foreign ministry, came after talks last year between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in Bangkok.
In 2018, the Saudi government expelled Canada’s ambassador and recalled its own envoy to Ottawa, while freezing all new trade over vigorous calls for the release of activists jailed in the kingdom.
On Wednesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said the two countries will “appoint new ambassadors”. A Canadian foreign ministry statement named Jean-Phillipe Linteau as Ottawa’s new envoy to the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia made no mention of its pick for ambassador.
The reconciliation was based on “the desire for both sides to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries on the basis of mutual respect and common interests,” Canada’s foreign ministry said.
