A “Liberal” Arms Deal? The Canadian Sale of LAVs to Saudi Arabia
Date
2018-03-30
Authors
Jansen, Sarah
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Abstract
Since 1993, the company, General Dynamics Land Systems Canada (GDLS-C) has been granted permission to export up to 3,000 light armoured vehicles to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through a legally binding contract. The Liberals have renewed this deal, approving export permits over the next four years. Regions of the Middle East have seen regional instability due to terrorism and conflict and this ongoing deal with Canada has the potential to further conflict in an already politically charged area.
In my research I investigate why Canada is still upholding this weapons deal even though NGO’s such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and United Nations Commissions have come out with reports stating that Saudi Arabia has been violating international humanitarian law. Canada, a country which is seen as safeguarding human rights in the international community, has formulated its foreign policy, which appears to disregard its values in favour of Canadian jobs and the defence industry, an alliance with a regional partner, or both.
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Keywords
Liberal, Saudi Arabia, Arms Deal, LAVs, Human Rights, Export Control Requirements