Ep 151 Canada and the Middle East in the Biden Era

President Biden came into office in January 2021 with promises of holding Saudi Arabia accountable for the death of Jamal Khashoggi, but also to turn the focus of US foreign policy away from the Middle East and towards the Asia-Pacific. Six weeks later, he released a damning intelligence report, but took few other steps to hold Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible. Nor did he take steps that can be seen as really separating the US from its traditional alliance with the Kingdom. Are there implications of this for Canada? Stephanie sits down with Thomas Juneau to discuss Biden’s policy towards Saudi Arabia, the impact on MBS and the Kingdom (and its campaign against dissidents and other former Saudi officials in Canada). They also discuss the disastrous war in Yemen, Canada’s controversial arms deal and the future of Canada’s relations with the Kingdom.