Published on: July 8, 2018 – 6:06 p.m

Diplomatic disputes, economic reactions and canceled flight connections: the already tense relations between Canadians and Saudis have become significantly strained in recent days. At issue are tweets published last week by the Canadian Foreign Ministry following the arrest of women's rights activists, including Samar Badawi. This activist is the sister of blogger Raif Badawi, who has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia since 2012 and whose family was naturalized in Canada after finding refuge in Quebec.

Angered by the tone of Canadian diplomacy, which “called on the Saudi authorities to release the arrested activists,” Riyadh announced a series of measures against Ottawa. In addition to expelling the Canadian ambassador stationed in Riyadh and recalling its ambassador to that country, the petromonarchy announced the freeze of “any new transaction related to trade and investment” with the North American country.

The Saudis, rejecting any interference in their affairs, have also suspended university scholarship programs for their nationals in Canada and asked the 16,000 Saudi students to redirect to other countries. A decisive reaction with which the Crown Prince Mohammed Ben Salman, who rules in Riyadh, wants to send a warning to Westerners who might be tempted to criticize his human rights policies.HHow.

A very limited effect

If Canadian universities rely heavily on the contribution of foreign students, of which Saudi Arabia accounts for one of the largest proportions, according to the local press, the measures taken in Riyadh are unlikely to disadvantage the Canadian economy. “Saudi Arabia not'East The the second most important destination for Canadian exports in the Gulf region, and only nearby 10% of the oil imported by Ottawa comes from the Saudi monarchy,” recalls François Rihouay, France 24 correspondent in Canada.

LTrade between the two countries amounts to just 4 billion Canadian dollars (2.66 billion euros), according to the Canadian government, while exports to Saudi Arabia accounted for just 0.24% of exports in 2016, according to the World Bank. The Canadian dollar lost only 0.3% of its value against the US dollar after the freeze was announcedS economic relations with'Saudi Arabia, according to Bloomberg. It is connected to its American neighbor Ottawa handles more than two-thirds of its international trade.

The $15 billion (12.94 billion euros) military deal to sell Canadian armored vehicles was signed in 2014, before the prime minister came to power minister Justin Trudeau and the rise of the Saudi crown prince are also not affected by these measures, as Saudi retaliation only affects “new transactions”. The The treaty, which is not vital for the Saudis on a military level, was intended to deepen relations between the two countries. What didn't happen after thatArrival at the store by Justin Trudeau. The latter confirmed the arms contractnot without raising eyebrows in his country, while distancing itself from a kingdom often criticized for its human rights abuses. A stance that deeply marked and angered the Saudis and strained relations between the two countries.

“An original and courageous diplomacy”

By directly criticizing the Saudis' repressive policies, the Canadian government is in line with the values ​​of Justin Trudeau, who has established himself as a champion of human rights.S WomenS and minorities. “Let it be clear to everyone (…) Canada will always defend human rights in Canada and the rest of the world,” said Chrystia Freeland, Canadian Foreign Minister, on Monday, August 6, for the first time with the announced expulsion of his Ambassador in Riyadh, Dennis Horak.

“The consequences of this crisis will be relative, since Canada is not dependent on Saudi Arabia, especially since its natural resources allow it freedom of speech,” says Gauthier Rybinski, international issues specialist at France 24. A freedom of speech that is so rare today what in the This is in contrast to the deafening silence of other western law firms. None of them saw fit to support Ottawa in this matter so as not to offend RIYad, an oil giant on the front lines against Iran.

And finally: “vFor this reason, Canadians today may have a chance to propose an original and bold diplomacy. There is an idea in Canada, especially since Donald Trump came to power in the USA, to distance itself from American diplomacy and no longer side with Washington. The crisis with Saudi Arabia, symbolic as it is, may represent the birth of an authentically Canadian diplomacy that has its own challenges to overcome.

It remains to be seen whether other Gulf states, a region under Saudi influence, such as the United Arab Emirates or Bahrain, which have shown their support for Riyadh in this crisis, will not in turn take action against Ottawa.