Carney bets on Saudi Arabia to help reduce dependence on US: What to know
Canada is seeking to diversify away from the United States, with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states offering key energy and industrial benefits.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Saudi Arabia constitutes the country’s latest attempt to reduce dependence on the United States by strengthening ties with the Gulf. Strengthening ties with the kingdom could offer key economic benefits to Canada, though the outreach could face challenges related to diplomatic capacity and domestic politics.
Carney arrived in the kingdom on Wednesday evening and met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at an official reception ceremony in Jeddah on Thursday.
HRH the Crown Prince receives the Prime Minister of Canada at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, where an official reception ceremony is held in his honor.#SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/RsePvDxTyQ
— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) July 9, 2026
He later held meetings with a number of senior defense, energy and industrial officials, including Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Aramco CEO Amin Nasser, Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar al-Khorayef, Saudi mining firm Maaden CEO Robert Wilt and Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman.
The prime minister’s office said the two countries signed 13 commercial agreements and memorandums of understanding worth more than $1 billion CAD ($710 million), including:
