U.S. refuses to back Canada in Saudi Arabia dispute

[left-of-center2012]

The Saudi monarchy is angry over statements on Twitter last week from (Canadian) Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and her department that called for the immediate release of civil-rights activists, including women’s-rights advocate Samar Badawi. They also signalled concern over Riyadh’s new crackdown on dissidents.

Reuters reported today that Saudi Arabia is stopping all medical treatment programs in Canada and is working on the transfer of all Saudi patients from hospitals there. Saudi Arabia on Sunday expelled the Canadian ambassador, froze new trade and investment dealings with Canada in retaliation for what it called “blatant interference” in its domestic affairs. It is also suspending Saudi Arabian Airline flights to and from Toronto and withdrawing an estimated 16,000 Saudi students from universities, colleges and other schools in Canada as part of what Saudi Arabia’s Education Minister described on Tuesday as an effort to “cut its dealings with the Canadian government.”

On Tuesday, a U.S. State Department spokeswoman, speaking at a media briefing in Washington, would not publicly condemn Riyadh’s arrest of civil-rights activists in the Mideast kingdom, as the Canadian government did last week. Ms. Nauert balked when asked during a media briefing whether the U.S. government would publicly decry the recent arrest of activists in Saudi Arabia. “I am not going to get into this,” Ms. Nauert said. She declined to say whether Washington thinks Saudi Arabia overreacted. “I am not going to characterize this.”

Saudi Arabia has found support for its position among allies, including Jordan, which, in 2009, signed a free-trade deal with Canada and has accepted military training from Ottawa. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Palestinian Authority also voiced support for Saudi Arabia, as did Comoros, Djibouti and Mauritania.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-us-sidesteps-getting-involved-in-escalating-saudi-canada-dispute/

[snowybirdie]

1. Why should we?

Isn't the Saudi leader Jared's BFF?

[TheRealNorth]

2. I wish we could throw all the Saudi princes out of the Mayo clinic

Most of the 9-11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia (+ bin laden) and they are still getting a free pass.

Trump really likes the Saudi system- repression of your enemies and tight control of the media. Remember one of the reasons the Saudis were threatening Qatar was because of Al Jazeera not kissing the Saudi's ring finger.