Episode Details

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney makes history as the first PM in 26 years to visit Saudi Arabia, forging a new chapter in ties with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. They inked a defense and trade coordination pact, signaling a pragmatic pivot away from past confrontations — including the 2018 fallout over jailed activists that led to expulsions and threats. Carney argues that moral lectures won’t move the needle, but behind-the-scenes diplomacy can. While he sidestepped public human rights critiques during his Saudi talks, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand continues raising concerns elsewhere — notably with Turkey and Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister. This thaw, building since 2023, reflects Canada’s recalibrated strategy: engagement over isolation, cooperation over condemnation.

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