News Analysis |
States Department’s spokesperson responded to the matter of detention of women rights activists in Saudi Arabia with careful choice of words, unlike to the conventional discourse of the State Department regarding matters of this nature. “The United States supports respect for internationally recognized freedoms and individual liberties including dissent and due process,” the official said. “We have asked the Government of Saudi Arabia for additional information on the detention of several activists.
We continue to encourage the Government of Saudi Arabia to respect due process and to publicize information on the status of legal cases. We address these broad concerns in our annual Human Rights Report.” The United States has termed both Saudi Arabia and Canada as “close allies”.
KSA adopts an Aggressive Foreign Policy Towards Canada for Intolerable ‘Interference’ in Internal Affairs
Saudi Arabia on Monday via a Royal decree issued through Ministry of Foreign affairs announced Canadian Ambassador as Persona non grata and ended the trade with Canada. It came as a surprise for everyone as the reason for such drastic step was a tweet from Canadian embassy’s twitter handle which asked for the release of detained civil rights activists.
Saudi Arabia has also decided to relocate nearly 7000 students residing in Canada to other places. Prince Mohammed Bin Salman wants his country to undergo a gradual shift from fundamentalism to modernization but at his own discretion.
Canada has decided to remain firm in its stance to stand for the civil liberties of people around the globe. Canada will always stand up for the protection of human rights, including women’s rights and freedom of expression around the world,” Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement. “We will never hesitate to promote these values and we believe that this dialogue is critical to international diplomacy.”
How did KSA react to the ‘Canadian tweet’?
1) KSA summoned their Ambassador to Canada back home
2) The Canadian envoy was given strict expulsion orders from KSA
3) Saudi students are in the midst of relocations from Canada, with scholarships being taken back by the Kingdom as well
4) A Saudi Arabian Twitter account put out a cryptic tweet, which depicted a 9/11 style threat to the CN tower in Canada if they continue to meddle in KSA’s internal affairs.
Canada and Saudi Arabia are both close allies of the United States: U.S.
Traditionally the United States has always been vocal about the civil right violations especially related to women in Saudi Arabia. But Trump administration seems to be in no mood of getting into the bad books of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. “We are aware of Government of Saudi Arabia’s statement recalling the Saudi ambassador to Canada and expelling Canada’s ambassador,” a State Department official wrote in an email Monday afternoon.
States Department’s spokesperson responded to the matter of detention of women rights activists in Saudi Arabia with careful choice of words, unlike to the conventional discourse of the State Department regarding matters of this nature.
“Canada and Saudi Arabia are both close allies of the United States. I refer you to the Canadian and Saudi Ministries of Foreign Affairs for further information.” Saudi Arabia is not an ally of the United States of America by any treaty, on the other hand, both the USA and Canada are NATO allies and neighboring countries who have always enjoyed cordial ties.
It is apparently evident that Saudi Arabia has now adopted to use its extensive imports as an intimidating tactic to refrain the western countries from criticizing the questionable actions of the monarchy. The strategy seems to work as the response from the United States clearly depicts that it does not to disrupt the billions of dollars coming from the sale of high-grade weapons to the kingdom.
Read more: Saudi Arabia to relocate students from Canada after cutting ties
Analysts believe that it the extensive and unconditional support of Trump administration from the beginning for the Saudi Arabia which has led the latter intolerant to even mild criticism. KSA was the first country which Donald Trump officially visited as the U.S president and signed deals worth billions with the crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman. It is primarily the same reason why the United States has responded toward the arrest in a very casual manner.
Saudi Arabia has also decided to relocate nearly 7000 students residing in Canada to other places. Prince Mohammed Bin Salman wants his country to undergo a gradual shift from fundamentalism to modernization but at his own discretion. He has ostensibly decided to make Canada as an example for the rest of the world to stay out of Saudi Arabia’s internal policies. The hostility is expected to increase as the United States’ soft response is more likely to act as an endorsement rather condemnation.