Canada invites Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince MBS to G7; ceasefire talks, Ukraine war and a tense past loom over the summit
Prime Minister
Mark Carney
has formally invited
Saudi Arabia
's
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
(MBS) to the
G7 summit
in Kananaskis from June 15-17. However, it remains uncertain whether
MBS
will attend as he had skipped the 2024 G7 in Italy.
Saudi Arabia's strategic relevance is hard to ignore; its role in supporting cease‑fire pushes in Gaza and hosting US-Russia talks on Ukraine makes it a key actor on two fronts of global conflict.
Saudi oil production remains a linchpin in global energy markets, and Riyadh's 'Vision 2030' is positioning the kingdom as an investment magnet in sectors from tech to tourism, a dynamic that Ottawa hopes to tap.
Carney's administration hasn't stopped at Saudi Arabia; invitations have extended to India's
Narendra Modi
and China's Premier Li Qiang, reflecting a deliberate pivot toward inclusive diplomacy.
What MBS is expected to say
Diplomatic observers expect Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to use the G7 stage to position Saudi Arabia as a constructive global actor navigating a volatile world order.
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Regional peacemaker
: First, MBS is likely to emphasize Saudi Arabia's role in Middle East diplomacy, particularly efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza. Riyadh has emerged as a key backchannel negotiator in talks involving the US, Egypt, and Qatar, pressing for humanitarian aid corridors and civilian protections in the embattled Palestinian territory. MBS may frame these efforts as part of Saudi Arabia's broader ambition to be seen as a regional peacemaker, not simply an oil power.
Russia-Ukraine War
: MBS is expected to highlight Saudi involvement in Ukraine-related diplomacy. The kingdom has hosted a series of discreet talks between Western and Russian interlocutors, attempting to carve out a neutral space for dialogue.
Vision 2030
: Third, MBS will likely promote Vision 2030, his signature domestic reform agenda. He is expected to tout Saudi Arabia's massive investments in renewable energy, smart cities (including the futuristic NEOM project), and technology as part of an effort to diversify away from oil dependency.
Diplomatic experts also suggest he could invoke the language of 'respect for sovereignty' and 'non-interference,' a veiled response to past Western condemnations, including Canada's.
His message will likely seek to portray Saudi Arabia as a proud, reforming nation that insists on its path.
Tense past between Canada and Saudi Arabia
Canada's invitation to MBS comes after years of strained relations. Canada publicly urged Saudi Arabia to release jailed women's rights activists in 2018, prompting Riyadh to expel Canada's ambassador, suspend trade, and pull Saudi students from Canadian universities.
Direct flights were halted, and relations soured further after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, for which Canada sanctioned Saudi officials.
Before the diplomatic spat, the Liberal government had temporarily paused arm sales to Saudi Arabia over reports that the country's Canadian-made light armoured vehicles were being used in a bloody conflict in Yemen.
For five years, diplomatic ties remained frozen until a fragile thaw began in 2023 after discreet talks between the then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and MBS at the APEC summit. Ambassadors were reinstated, flights resumed, and economic ties cautiously reopened.
By 2024, a Saudi‑Canada Business Council had formed, generating growing trade and collaboration in sectors like renewable energy, education, and healthcare
Canada's invitation to MBS is a finely calibrated decision, rooted in global strategy and pragmatic diplomacy, but shadowed by moral dilemmas.
As Alberta opens its doors for the G7 summit, the world will watch not only whether MBS attends, but also whether Canada can leverage influence without compromising its values. It will be a test of Carney's vision of principled engagement in an imperfect world.
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