Saudi Arabia and Canada restored diplomatic relations on Wednesday, putting an end to a five-year rift between the two nations.
The decision follows discussions between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last November on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in Bangkok, according to a statement.
“It has been decided to restore the level of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia to its previous level,” Canada foreign ministry said in a statement, which also announced the restoration of relations, CNN reports.
Both countries also announced Canada’s new ambassador in Saudi Arabia as being Jean-Philippe Linteau, and expressed their desire to restore diplomatic relations on the basis of mutual respect and common interests.
The move by Saudi Arabia comes as the Kingdom continues to pursue a reset of its foreign policy regionally and globally, as well as prioritizing the development of its own economy.
