Restoration of Diplomatic Relations Between Canada and Saudi Arabia After Prolonged Dispute

Canada and Saudi Arabia have agreed to fully restore diplomatic relations and appoint new ambassadors following a dispute that began in 2018, which caused damage to trade between the two countries, according to a statement from the Canadian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. This agreement comes on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok on November 18, 2022, reflecting both parties' desire to resume diplomatic relations based on mutual respect and shared interests. A government source informed Reuters that "trade punitive measures will be lifted." Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly stated, "We need to talk to people with whom we do not always agree on everything in order to find global solutions to global problems." Canada will appoint Jean-Philippe Linteau as the new ambassador in Riyadh, according to a source for Reuters. This normalization comes at a time when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seeking to reaffirm Saudi Arabia's position as a regional power through its role as a major energy producer in a world heavily reliant on oil and strained by the war in Ukraine.