Relationship dossier
Canada
Saudi Arabia
Relationship assessment
Commercial ties and restored diplomacy coexist with persistent human-rights and arms-export tensions.
Canada toward Saudi Arabia
-10Canada has criticized Saudi human-rights practices, including publicly urging the release of detained activists in 2018, and imposed sanctions on 17 Saudi nationals over Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. Canada has also maintained significant arms-export ties with Saudi Arabia, including a major armoured-vehicle contract.
Saudi Arabia toward Canada
-20In 2018, Saudi Arabia expelled Canada’s ambassador, recalled its own ambassador, and suspended new trade and investment with Canada after Canadian criticism of Saudi human-rights practices. Saudi Arabia agreed to restore diplomatic relations with Canada in 2023.
Overall relationship
-10The bilateral relationship combines significant commercial and defence ties with recurrent political friction over human rights and arms sales. Saudi Arabia’s 2018 diplomatic and economic retaliation sharply strained relations, while the 2023 restoration of diplomatic ties represented a significant step toward normalization. The underlying policy disagreements remain relevant to the relationship.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Canada and Saudi Arabia have maintained substantial commercial ties, including a major Canadian armoured-vehicle export agreement, alongside serious political friction. Canada’s public criticism of Saudi human-rights practices and its sanctions over Jamal Khashoggi’s murder prompted Saudi diplomatic and economic retaliation in 2018. The countries restored diplomatic relations in 2023, but the relationship remains shaped by unresolved differences over human rights and arms sales.
Areas of tension
- Canadian criticism of Saudi Arabia’s treatment of human-rights activists and other dissidents.
- Canadian arms exports to Saudi Arabia and concerns about their use.
- Saudi Arabia’s 2018 diplomatic and economic retaliation against Canada.
Key developments
Canada publicly urged Saudi Arabia to release detained activists, prompting a sharp Saudi diplomatic response.
Saudi Arabia expelled Canada’s ambassador, recalled its own ambassador, and announced a freeze on new trade and investment with Canada.
Canada imposed sanctions on 17 Saudi nationals over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
Canada and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore diplomatic relations and appoint new ambassadors.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of the 2023 diplomatic normalization are unclear.
- The current status and future of Canadian arms-export permits to Saudi Arabia are uncertain.