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Canada's Carney defends his trip as he visits Saudi Arabia
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney defended his visit to Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that publicly condemning countries from afar is ineffective, despite Saudi Arabia's poor human rights record.
- During the trip, Carney met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to strengthen economic ties and diversify Canada's trade beyond its heavy reliance on the U.S. amid trade tensions.
- The visit marked the first by a Canadian leader to Saudi Arabia in 26 years, contrasting with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's public criticism that led to a diplomatic rift between the two countries.
- Carney and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand raised human rights and consular issues during their meetings, while Saudi officials highlighted the kingdom's efforts to attract foreign investment.
- The visit resulted in 13 commercial agreements worth over 1 billion Canadian dollars, reflecting Carney's pragmatic approach to international relations focused on engagement rather than confrontation.
