Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (informally referred to as MBS) will not be attending the next Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada, a senior diplomat told Reuters. The crown prince is said to have turned down the invite without giving a reason.
While Saudi Arabia is not a member of the G7, it does get an occasional invitation to attend as a guest. The summit this year is set to take place between June 15 and 17 in Kananaskis in the Canadian Rockies.
MBS has restricted his foreign travel over the past few years. He also refused to join last year’s G7 summit in Italy. A visit to Japan later was delayed at the time due to worries over King Salman’s health.
The media office of the Saudi government could not be reached immediately for comment on his failure to attend the summit by Reuters.
The Globe and Mail, which originally published the story, said that the crown prince’s invitation was uncomfortable for some Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal party members. Avoiding the event would serve to calm domestic political tensions.
Mohammed bin Salman has come under blistering criticism from human rights groups and foreign nations for Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. The kingdom has consistently denied allegations of abuse.
Other non-G7 leaders invited to attend portions of the summit include those from Brazil, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, Mexico, India, and Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump will also attend.
