TORONTO (AP) 鈥� Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney defended his trip to despite its poor human rights record and said on Thursday, during his that publicly condemning countries from afar is 鈥渁n ineffective strategy.鈥�
During the visit 鈥� the first by a in 26 years 鈥� Carney met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom鈥檚 de facto ruler.
Carney has been seeking to beyond its heavy reliance on the United States, and diversify trade and attract investments against the backdrop of U.S. President Donald to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
鈥淟ecturing countries from afar is an ineffective strategy,鈥� Carney told reporters in the Saudi city of Jeddah. 鈥淚t鈥檚 satisfying, but it鈥檚 ineffective.鈥�
He stressed that engagement 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 mean that we agree with everything that a country is doing.鈥�
Saudi Arabia鈥檚 human rights record drew global scrutiny after the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist . A U.S. intelligence assessment concluded Prince Mohammed likely approved the operation, which Saudi Arabia denies.
In Jeddah, Carney also said that the world is becoming more dangerous and divided and that Canada must expand its partnerships elsewhere, beyond the U.S., its largest trading partner.
The visit contrasts with the approach by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose government publicly criticized Saudi Arabia鈥檚 human rights record in 2018, triggering a diplomatic rift that lasted five years.
The criticism prompted Riyadh to expel Canada鈥檚 ambassador, suspend new trade and investment and recall thousands of Saudi students. The countries restored full diplomatic relations in 2023.
Carney said he cares deeply about human rights and Canadian consular cases, citing a case he said he raised with Turkish President during a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey’s capital this week.
鈥淏ecause I was with the president, it was addressed favorably. If I sat in Ottawa … I wouldn鈥檛 have had that conversation. I wouldn鈥檛 have had that impact. That鈥檚 a small example,” Carney said.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, who accompanied Carney to Saudi Arabia, said she also raised human rights and consular cases during her meetings.
For its part, Saudi Arabia has sought to attract foreign investment as Prince Mohammed pursues an ambitious plan to diversify the kingdom鈥檚 economy beyond oil
Saudi Investment Minister Fahad Al-Saif called Canada 鈥渁 trusted long-term partner鈥� and said Saudi investors offer 鈥減atient capital.鈥�
Also Thursday, Carney attended a ceremony for 13 commercial agreements and memorandums of understanding between Canadian and Saudi companies and institutions, including engineering firms Hatch and AtkinsR茅alis 鈥� agreements the prime minister’s office said are worth more than 1 billion Canadian dollars ($710 million).
Nelson Wiseman, a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, highlighted the practical side of Carney’s policies.
鈥淐arney says he is taking the world as it is,” Wiseman said. “It doesn鈥檛 mean looking beyond human rights; it means being realistic about what preaching about it to authoritarian leaders can accomplish.鈥�
Carney flies back to Canada on Friday.
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