Canadian TV talks about its country’s role in Saudi-led war on Yemen

SANAA, Nov. 02 (YPA) – Canadian television network Novo TV has revealed Canada’s role in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. The network stated that Canada has faced severe criticism for its arms sales to Saudi Arabia, whereas a group of prominent international and regional experts on Yemen, who have studied the war for many years on behalf of the United Nations, had already indicated that Canada was one of the countries contributing to fueling the war in Yemen.

The television network confirmed that in 2014, Canada signed a $14 billion contract to sell armored vehicles to Saudi Arabia under the government of Stephen Harper. This contributed to creating many jobs in London, Ontario.

But two years later, a United Nations report condemned war crimes committed by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. As a result, concerns quickly arose: What if Canadian armored vehicles were used in this conflict?

It was reported that two years later, in the face of clear discontent from many elected officials and NGOs, the Trudeau government temporarily suspended arms export permits to Saudi Arabia, but trade was scheduled to resume in 2020. A few months later, Amnesty International confirmed that Canadian armored vehicles were already being used in Yemen.

The Canadian television network revealed that Saudi Arabia remains Canada’s largest arms buyer after the United States. Canada exported $904.6 million worth of military equipment to Saudi Arabia, representing 42% of total exports last year.

It added that international organizations, including Amnesty International, have been campaigning for several years against arms sales to Saudi Arabia. In its report, the organization called on the Canadian government to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia.