RIYADH: The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and his Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand, on Monday discussed security challenges in the Middle East and highlighted the growing ties between their countries.
During talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh, they welcomed what they described as positive momentum in relations spanning more than 50 years, underpinned by shared interests in economic diversification, security cooperation and global stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
They noted that bilateral trade exceeded SR12 billion ($3.2 billion) in 2024, and welcomed the establishment of the Saudi-Canadian Business Council, which aims to boost economic cooperation. They also cited progress in ongoing negotiations over an agreement on the promotion and protection of foreign investment.
The ministers welcomed the second Saudi-Canadian Education Partnership Forum, which also took place on Monday, and discussed the expansion of cooperation in key sectors including trade, investment, space, artificial intelligence, mining, tourism, education and pharmaceuticals. They agreed on the important need to deepen ties and advance a comprehensive partnership between their countries.
On regional matters, they exchanged views on ongoing tensions and condemned what they described as the destabilizing activities of Iran, including attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. They called on authorities in Tehran to cease all such actions, and to respect international law and the principles of good neighborliness.
The ministers also urged Iran to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817, which was adopted on March 11 and calls for a halt to Iranian attacks on other countries in the region and to support for affiliated militias in Arab countries, warning that such actions undermine regional and international security.
Anand expressed Canada’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia, and thanked the Kingdom for its assistance with efforts to facilitate the return of Canadian citizens leaving the region during the current crisis. She reaffirmed the readiness of Ottawa to work closely with Riyadh to promote regional stability and protect civilians amid the ongoing conflict in the Gulf and wider Middle East.
Both ministers stressed the need for coordinated international efforts to deescalate tensions, strengthen maritime and energy security, and safeguard critical infrastructure.
