Canada to ask allies to help cool Saudi dispute; U.S. offers no aid

By David Ljunggren

 

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a news conference in Brussels, Belgium July 12, 2018. REUTERS/Reinhard Krause

 

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada plans to seek help from the United Arab Emirates and Britain to defuse an escalating dispute with Saudi Arabia, sources said on Tuesday, but close ally the United States made clear it would not get involved.

 

The Saudi government on Sunday recalled its ambassador to Ottawa, barred Canada's envoy from returning and placed a ban on new trade, denouncing Canada for urging the release of jailed rights activists. Riyadh accused Ottawa on Tuesday of interfering in its internal affairs.

 

One well placed source said the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - which stresses the importance of human rights - planned to reach out to the United Arab Emirates.

 

"The key is to work with allies and friends in the region to cool things down, which can happen quickly," said the source, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation.

 

Another source said Canada would also seek help from Britain. The British government on Tuesday urged the two nations to show restraint.

 

The United States, traditionally one of Canada's most important friends, stayed on the sidelines. U.S. President Donald Trump - who criticized Trudeau after a Group of Seven summit in June - has forged tighter ties with Riyadh.

 

"Both sides need to diplomatically resolve this together. We can't do it for them; they need to resolve it together," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a briefing.

 

The first Canadian source said Ottawa shared the view of foreign policy experts who believe the Saudi reaction reflected internal strains inside the kingdom, where 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is trying to push through domestic reforms.

The office of Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland did not respond to requests for comment.

 

The dispute looks set to damage what is a modest bilateral trade relationship worth nearly $4 billion a year. Canadian exports to Saudi Arabia totalled about $1.12 billion in 2017, or 0.2 percent of the total value of Canadian exports.

 

Canada says it does not know what will happen to a $13 billion defence contract to sell Canadian-made General Dynamics Corp armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia.

 

European traders said the main Saudi wheat-buying agency had told grains exporters it will no longer accept Canadian-origin wheat and barley.

 

Saudi Arabia has also ordered roughly 15,000 Saudis studying in Canada to leave.

 

Canada's previous Conservative government, which lost power to the Liberals in 2015, also had challenges with Riyadh over human rights.

 

Thomas Juneau, an assistant professor and Middle East expert at the University of Ottawa, said Saudi irritation at the way the General Dynamics contract was handled also helped explain Riyadh's response.

 

The deal was agreed in 2014 by the Conservatives, who shared the Saudi desire for deeper relations, he said. But the task of approving the export permits fell to the Liberals, who were lobbied by human rights activists to say no.

 

The Liberals granted the permits but showed little interest in deepening ties with Riyadh amid growing civil society and media attacks on the agreement, Juneau added.

 

"That for Saudi Arabia was the source of growing frustration," he said in a phone interview. "(The ambassador) was very clear in saying he was irritated by what he saw as passivity by the Canadian government, which in his view was not resisting that criticism."

 

The first Canadian source said Ottawa had no regrets about speaking out on human rights in Saudi Arabia. Canada's ambassador, Dennis Horak, is not in Riyadh. The source said Saudi authorities were aware Horak was due to start a new posting next month.

 

(Additional reporting by William James in London, Daphne Psaledakis in Washington, Michael Hogan, Gus Trompiz and Maha El Dahan in Hamburg and Maher Chmaytelli in Dubai; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-08-08

Justin, Justin.....

20 minutes ago, theguyfromanotherforum said:

Justin, Justin.....

Finally somebody speaking out against SA, the main instigator of global terrorism, islamic fundamentalism and backwards in human rights.

Edited August 7, 20187 yr by stevenl

Canada. Fought alongside Americans, shedding blood and tears in partnership around the globe. NATO ally. The longest undefended border in the world. Major trading partners. Two countries that are the exception to the rule that countries don't have friends, only interests. Sheltered Americans when the Embassy in Tehran was over-run in 1979. Massive inter-marriage and cross-border ties. Democracies. NORAD. 

 

Saudi Arabia. Home of the 9/11 terrorists.

 

Trump/USA. 'We can't get involved'.

 

Idiots.

 

I would support the end of any association with SA. 

Saudi Arabia's new found assertiveness is a direct consequence of Trump's policy of not talking to oppressive regimes about their human rights abuses, coupled with a new young king.

 

It's weird that people used to say Obama had a muslim agenda, but Trump is much more cozy with the Saudi despots, and few people seem to notice, or even care.

 

 

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

Finally somebody speaking out against SA, the main instigator of global terrorism, islamic fundamentalism and backwards in human rights.

 

Why is he crying to Trump and mama America?

from today's Guardian...

 

"A Saudi Arabian organisation has apologised for tweeting a digitally altered image that showed a plane flying towards Toronto’s CN Tower – in an apparent reference to a 9/11-style attack – amid an escalating row over Canada’s call for the release of detained human rights activists in the kingdom."

 

This is from the state that spawned 15 of the 19 9-11 attackers, and gave the world Wahabbist terrorism.

If Justin Trudeau didn't have such a big mouth, and used it often without much thought, he shouldn't expect the US, who he recently back-stabbed at their summit, to back him up. Saudi Arabia is many bad things but I worked there for 15 years, kept mine and my Thai wife's mouth shut, and paid cash for her Son's 3 story home in Thailand. Principals have a price.

Edited August 8, 20187 yr by oldrunner
grammar

4 minutes ago, oldrunner said:

If Justin Trudeau didn't have such a big mouth, and used it often without much thought, he shouldn't expect the US, who he recently back-stabbed at their summit, to back him up. Saudi Arabia is many bad things but I worked there for 15 years, kept mine and my Thai wife's mouth shut, and paid cash for her Son's 3 story home in Thailand. Principals have a price.

 

Many principles actually don't have a price.

 

Those that are, are not generally worth paying the price for.

9 minutes ago, oldrunner said:

If Justin Trudeau didn't have such a big mouth, and used it often without much thought, he shouldn't expect the US, who he recently back-stabbed at their summit, to back him up. Saudi Arabia is many bad things but I worked there for 15 years, kept mine and my Thai wife's mouth shut, and paid cash for her Son's 3 story home in Thailand. Principals have a price.

As all other countries said afterwards: US backstabbed Canada, not the way you portray things.

 

I don't think keeping your mind shut about terrorist activities and human rights abuses is the way forward.

6 hours ago, stevenl said:

Finally somebody speaking out against SA, the main instigator of global terrorism, islamic fundamentalism and backwards in human rights.

Islamaphobic comment!!!

5 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Canada. Fought alongside Americans, shedding blood and tears in partnership around the globe. NATO ally. The longest undefended border in the world. Major trading partners. Two countries that are the exception to the rule that countries don't have friends, only interests. Sheltered Americans when the Embassy in Tehran was over-run in 1979. Massive inter-marriage and cross-border ties. Democracies. NORAD. 

 

Saudi Arabia. Home of the 9/11 terrorists.

 

Trump/USA. 'We can't get involved'.

 

Idiots.

 

The US will not support Canada and Trudeau's Islamaphobic policies.

9 minutes ago, zydeco said:

The US will not support Canada and Trudeau's Islamaphobic policies.

Saudi Arabia is not Islam and Islam is not Saudi Arabia.

14 minutes ago, zydeco said:

Islamaphobic comment!!!

Trolling

Saudi Arabia has also ordered roughly 15,000 Saudis studying in Canada to leave.

 

So it isn't all bad news then.

Maybe Justin can fly in and do a dance in traditional clothes whilst telling the attendant "peoplekind" that it's all fine and that he'll sing away any discourse with his halo on full shine. 

Wonder what Ken Taylor would say if he would be still alive. He was the Canadian Ambassador who was involved in getting those US hostages out of Tehran in 1979.

The Canadians voiced their concerns over KSA‘s human rights and the Saudi prince went apeshit because of an inferiority complex. As mentioned before, it is time to teach them a lesson; over time they will settle matters over the table again - now it is about face, face and face again. 

Stopping scholarships in Canada for their own people (10‘000+ I was told) speaks for itself; how many Canadians study in the dunes? 

If KSA wants to be a member of the 21st century planet called Earth then accept the fact, that lashing and stoning is some gruesome stuff from the past. If Canada gives in, then they‘ve lost much more than the face (which is not important) but reinforces KSA‘s position and antiquated medieval way treating its very own citizen. 

11 hours ago, theguyfromanotherforum said:

 

Why is he crying to Trump and mama America?

Because so called allies usually help each other, simple!

Canada has every right to expect assistance from it's closest ally.

I've long wondered why the US is so cosy with this archaic regime which cares not a fig for human rights.

Any decent President would act to try to mediate, but there again there is tRump.

1 hour ago, Jonnapat said:

Canada has every right to expect assistance from it's closest ally.

Then maybe Canadians shouldn't have started a "Boycott USA" movement if they wanted help. 

https://nypost.com/2018/06/14/canadians-boycott-us-products-cancel-vacations-to-america/

Edited August 8, 20187 yr by zydeco

57 minutes ago, Jonnapat said:

Canada has every right to expect assistance from it's closest ally.

I've long wondered why the US is so cosy with this archaic regime which cares not a fig for human rights.

Any decent President would act to try to mediate, but there again there is tRump.

Saudi Arabia is trumps ally, not canada, because the Saudis bought for $ 350 billion weapons. 

He does not know values such as friendship, reliability, sincerity, morality, human rights, sustainability, honesty, responsibility, humanity, etc.

 

Trump likes to sell his friends as long as there is enough money in for him.

The big military and oil companies then return the favor with many bookings in his overpriced hotels.

 

9 minutes ago, zydeco said:

Then maybe Canadians shouldn't have started a "Boycott USA" movement if they wanted help. 

https://nypost.com/2018/06/14/canadians-boycott-us-products-cancel-vacations-to-america/

There is a reason for that. or do you play the troll here?

9 hours ago, kamahele said:

With Trump in charge - America, with friends like you, who needs enemies....

Don't know but it would seem Canada has found one in Saudi Arabia. Don't know that Canada looked all that hard to find an enemy.

An off topic trolling post has been removed. 

10 hours ago, oldrunner said:

Principals have a price.

Not as high a price as principles. 

14 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Wonder what Ken Taylor would say if he would be still alive. He was the Canadian Ambassador who was involved in getting those US hostages out of Tehran in 1979.

The Canadians voiced their concerns over KSA‘s human rights and the Saudi prince went apeshit because of an inferiority complex. As mentioned before, it is time to teach them a lesson; over time they will settle matters over the table again - now it is about face, face and face again. 

Stopping scholarships in Canada for their own people (10‘000+ I was told) speaks for itself; how many Canadians study in the dunes? 

If KSA wants to be a member of the 21st century planet called Earth then accept the fact, that lashing and stoning is some gruesome stuff from the past. If Canada gives in, then they‘ve lost much more than the face (which is not important) but reinforces KSA‘s position and antiquated medieval way treating its very own citizen. 

Precisely, their human rights record ia disgusting, 600 people have been beheaded since 2014 and they crucified a man recently. I hate to think that Canadian principles are "up for sale", to hell with them.

11 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

Don't know but it would seem Canada has found one in Saudi Arabia. Don't know that Canada looked all that hard to find an enemy.

Canada and Australia both were countries full to the brim of Red Greens, Bogans, and Trailer Park Boys clones. If not for massive influxes of immigration by both states they would be as backward now as they were 25 years ago. Both countries have been under the protection of states stronger than their own since forever, which has allowed them to build a false social infrastructure that doesn't account for their own defense, let alone anyone else's. Nice folks though, till they're all working for the Chinese. Somehow that will be America's fault.

Edited August 9, 20187 yr by lannarebirth

On 8/7/2018 at 8:02 PM, car720 said:

So true and interesting to notice that big mouth runs scared as soon as the Saudis threaten anything.  What a woosie.

No one has run scared. They are using common sense. The Canadians are hypocrites. The picked the KSA because they assumed there would be no reaction.  The same government has been  quiet  in respect to much more serious human rights abuses in Pakistan, China  and India. It has done very little to  support the Canadian victims of the Iranian regime including those who have had brutal deaths while in detention, including a Canadian journalist and  Canadian professor/environmentalist.

10 hours ago, Jonmarleesco said:

Not as high a price as principles. 

Canada  walks on eggshells when it comes to countries with far worse  human rights issues. When is the last time the Trudeau government  spoke out on the abuses in Nigeria? (Hint- he hasn't.)

 

4 hours ago, The Old Bull said:

What about all this freedom and liberty the yanks talk about. Now is the time to step up and put their money where their mouth is . I don't think it will happen greed Trumps principles every time.

Why do you expect the USA to do this? What of the EU? How about South Korea , or Thailand or India? Isn't India supposed to have a special relationship with Canada?

 

19 hours ago, ramrod711 said:

Saudi Arabia has also ordered roughly 15,000 Saudis studying in Canada to leave.

So it isn't all bad news then.

It is for the thousands of Canadians who will suffer when  10% of medical residents in some major cities  leave. And because the Saudis occupy the most skilled positions, in some cases, that's 50% of specialized medical residents at some teaching hospitals. The Saudis were paying their salaries too.  Emergency rooms at some hospitals are going to close  because the chief resident is Saudi and the trauma specialists who shoulder much of the work are Saudi.  This is a medical crisis in the making.  Canadians do not know how dependent they are on those Saudi doctors.

 

14 hours ago, Jonnapat said:

Because so called allies usually help each other, simple!

Canada is finding out that the rest of the world doesn't care about its double standards and insincerity. It talks big on the KSA but still has not addressed its ongoing human rights crisis with its first nations.

 

14 hours ago, Jonnapat said:

Canada has every right to expect assistance from it's closest ally.

I've long wondered why the US is so cosy with this archaic regime which cares not a fig for human rights. Any decent President would act to try to mediate, but there again there is tRump.

The USA cannot mediate Canada's mickey mouse approach to diplomacy. The first step is for Canada to walk back its insulting statements.