Saudi Blowback Over Women's Rights Gives Trudeau a Rare Boost
- Trudeau’s push for women’s rights draws rebuke from Saudis
- Standoff is latest setback for Trudeau’s ‘sunny ways’ abroad
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Justin Trudeau’s attempts to export his “sunny” progressive ways have hit another roadblock, this time with Saudi Arabia. Yet unlike in recent spats with China and India, Canada’s prime minister may get a slight boost at home for his support of women’s rights.
Saudi Arabia suspended diplomatic ties and halted new trade dealings late Sunday following comments by Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland criticizing the kingdom for arrests of women’s rights activists. The standoff pits Trudeau, an outspoken champion of women’s advancement, against a Saudi government that’s taking a harder line more recently after making some reforms to help women.