Trudeau says the freezing of the arms deal would weigh on Khashoggi in Riyadh

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that suspending federal permits authorizing the export of a mbadive sale of armored vehicles in Saudi Arabia would be a way to pressure Riyadh to give more details on what happened to murdered dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

This is the fourth four-day edition of Mr. Trudeau's position on Canada's possible follow-up to the killing of Mr. Khashoggi, who disappeared on October 2 after entering the Saudi Consulate. in Istanbul to get married. documents. The Saudi prosecutor now says that the killing of Mr. Khashoggi was premeditated.

On Monday, Trudeau said Canada was willing, if necessary, to suspend shipments of the $ 15 billion sale of armored light armored vehicles (LAVs) to Riyadh, but on Tuesday it appeared to exclude the government. cancellation of the contract a penalty of $ 1 billion. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister clarified what action he could take, saying Canada is considering suspending LAV shipments.

On Thursday, the Prime Minister explained why he could freeze LAV shipments, saying Canada is considering suspending the permits to pressure Riyadh. Germany has already announced its intention to freeze its arms exports to the Saudis.

"This provides us with leverage to ask for more responses from Saudi Arabia," said Trudeau about the suspension of export permits for the LAV agreement.

Still, Mr. Trudeau continued to resist calls to completely cancel the Saudi light armored vehicles agreement, noting that taxpayers would be subject to sanctions.

Addressing reporters during a visit with the Dutch Prime Minister, Mr. Trudeau spoke about his estimate of the cost of repealing the agreement on the LAVs, stating that he was not going to be able to do anything. it could cost many billions of dollars in Canada.

"Suffice it to say, the possible penalties would be in the order of billions of dollars," Mr. Trudeau said.

He blames former Prime Minister Stephen Harper for signing an agreement with Riyadh containing such restrictions. The 14-year agreement was signed in 2014 under the leadership of Mr. Harper, but it was the 2016 Liberal government that approved exports to the Saudis as part of Canada's arms export control program. .

Trudeau reiterated on Thursday that the government was "actively reviewing" existing export permits as Canada and its allies were looking for ways to put pressure on Riyadh.

"We are part of the international community that poses serious problems for Saudi Arabia regarding the behavior of the Saudis in the badbadination of Jamal Khashoggi. Until we have answers, we will continue to look for ways to put pressure together on Saudi Arabia to make it clear to us the importance of respect for human rights and human rights. freedom of the press. "

The Prime Minister's remarks come as the Liberal government is under increasing pressure from human rights groups to strengthen Canada's trade ties with Saudi Arabia following the suspicious death of Mr. Khashoggi.

The ruling monarchy in Saudi Arabia initially denied any wrongdoing in early October, but three weeks later, the journalist had died as a result of a clash with bare hands with government officials.

On Thursday, the Saudi case has changed again, with the Saudi prosecutor declaring that the badbadination of Mr. Khashoggi was premeditated, citing a joint Saudi-Turkish investigation, according to Saudi media reports.

Mr. Trudeau defended his reluctance to cancel the deal on Thursday. A reporter asked him why Canada was unwilling to pay huge penalties to cancel the LAV deal when he had recently canceled a major car loan. The CBC announced earlier this week that the federal government has quietly canceled a $ 2.6 billion advanced auto loan to Chrysler during the 2009 economic crisis. The remaining value of the loan would have included $ 1.1 billion. dollars of principal plus interest.

The Liberal leader said that he had nothing to do with auto loan, accusing Prime Minister Harper in 2009. "It's a decision by Stephen Harper to pay Chrysler and to do not have a chance to get it back. ready."

Trudeau said his government is still consulting with other international allies on a plan to persuade Saudi Arabia to shed light on what happened to Mr. Khashoggi.

"Canada is committed to upholding the human rights, freedom of expression and protection of journalists around the world," he said. "We condemn the horrible badbadination of Jamal Khashoggi and we are deeply concerned by the participation of Saudi officials."

Roland Paris, a former foreign policy adviser to Trudeau, on Thursday presented what appeared to be a defense of the Prime Minister's reluctance to cancel the agreement reached with the Saudi LAV. "I can not talk about the contract, but that's one reason I called for it to be canceled before I went to the PMO, but I have not talked about it since: I learned the content" said Paris on Twitter.

On Thursday in the House of Commons, the opposition NDP urged the Liberals to take action. "Everyone knows that the kingdom is one of the worst human rights offenders in the world. That alone should suffice. What are the Liberals waiting for? "Said Hélène Laverdière, NDP Foreign Affairs Critic.

On Thursday, European parliamentarians voted 242 to 23 for the suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia, but the resolution is not binding. Many European countries still weigh their options.

The Spanish Prime Minister said earlier this week that his government would honor the former arms deals with Saudi Arabia, despite his "dismay" at the "terrible badbadination" of Mr. Khashoggi.

In London, British Prime Minister Theresa May also rejected the call of opposition MPs to stop arms sales to the Arab kingdom, saying Wednesday in parliament that "the procedures we follow are among the strictest in the world. "

With reports from Reuters and the Associated Press