Canada invites Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman to G7 summit: sources

It is not yet known if bin Salman has accepted the invitation. He did not attend last year's G7 summit in Italy despite being invited there as well.

Canada has invited Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the upcoming G7 Leaders’ Summit in Alberta, Global News has learned.

It is not yet known if bin Salman has accepted the invitation. He did not attend last year’s G7 summit in Italy despite being invited there as well.

Canada’s invitation marks the third time in recent days that Prime Minister Mark Carney and his government has reached out to leaders of countries whose relationships with Canada have been strained.

Leaders from the world’s largest economies are set to gather in Kananaskis for three days of talks that begin Sunday. It is common practice for host countries to invite other world leaders to the annual summit to discuss pressing global issues.

Saudi Arabia is seen as a key player in Middle East diplomacy. It has been supportive of efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel continues to conduct a military offensive against Hamas that has created a humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.

The kingdom has also hosted talks involving the United States on finding an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, a conflict that is expected to be among the major topics at the summit.

Yet Saudi Arabia’s human rights record has been criticized by Canada and independent advocacy groups, despite bin Salman’s stated efforts to improve women’s rights.

The country recalled its ambassador from Ottawa and expelled Canada’s envoy in 2018 after Global Affairs Canada called on Saudi Arabia to “immediately release” detained women’s rights and democracy activists.