Tension between Saudi Arabia and Canada

The breaking of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Canada opens a new front within an increasingly divided West and precarious balance. The facts speak of a Canadian criticism of the failure to respect the conditions of detention of women's rights activists in one of the countries most intolerant of the female gender. There is a strong likelihood that the criticism is true and that therefore the claims made to the Saudis are justified. On the other hand, the degree of respect for political and civil rights by the Saudi monarchy can not be reassured or certainties. The problem is why these criticisms have generated a reaction such as to decree the expulsion of the Canadian ambassador and have suspended all trade relations and investments in Canada, by the Saudi state. One of the objectives of the transition of power that has affected the Arab country, is to ensure a new image of the country in the Western eyes, including through the granting of limited rights to women and also to Shiite minorities. The ambition of Saudi Arabia is to be accredited as a modern regional power, less bound by the dictates of the more rigid Sunni orientation. Politically this new image serves to attract new investments in the country, to create alternatives to the oil industry, while, on the diplomatic level, serves to counter Iranian power, even within the conflict for religious supremacy. Trump's rapprochement with the United States has favored a preferential relationship between Washington and Riyadh, in which the reasons for the White House's sanctions against Tehran have to be sought in part. In this context the criticism from a Western minister, in favor of the release of activists who support women's rights, was perceived as a sort of de-legitimization of the renewal process underway in the Saudi country, in the face of world public opinion. Riyadh has spoken explicitly of interference in the internal affairs of the state, which Arabia could exercise in the opposite direction, in case the Canadian critics will not be interrupted. It must be remembered that on Saudi Arabia there have been equally heavy criticisms on the same subjects or on similar subjects, while for the behavior held by Riyadh in the Yemeni repression the criticisms have been, quite rightly, even harsher; however, in any previous case there was a reaction comparable to the current one. One of the Saudi fears could be to become too controlled by Western states on the subject of the violation of human rights and the repression of these activists, who are imprisoned under the pretense of attempting to national security. Closely linked to this case one must consider how this diplomatic break is within the Western alliance. The fact that the relationship between Canada and the United States is not at this time the best, could it be a cause of Saudi raiding? The level of Saudi investment in Canada, while important, would not affect Ottawa's economy, although Saudi Arabia has substantial capital as a financial liquidity. Certainly by Trump's standards an action against Canada, at this moment does not seem unwelcome at all. The scenario, however, has a larger dimension: the reprisals of the Riad serve as a warning against other possible grievances coming from Western democracies, too careful to respect the rights in other countries. The fact remains that, for now, the question is limited to the two states, without a clear and clear position taken by Washington, which in theory is the greatest ally for both countries. Trump prefers not to annoy Riad when he attacks Iran with the application of new sanctions and in doing so does not take a position on the issue of rights, but, widening the view, establishes an ever greater detachment from the conformation of the Western alliance for how has been known until now, consolidated equilibriums are moved for economic causes, as in the case of Canada, to benefit geopolitical visions that favor the importance of the current Israel, ally of Riad with the Iranians. The impression is that American silence gives rise to the Saudi response, in the name of a particular interest, to which to sacrifice the battle over rights, even if carried out by a historic ally like Canada.