Photo by CADSI.
The Ottawa-based Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI), “the leading national voice of over 1,000 defence, security and emerging technology companies”, has posted on social media:
“A major milestone for Canada’s international delegation engagement was announced today at Eurosatory 2026 [an arms fair in Paris, France].
Representatives from the Government of Canada and Global Affairs Canada formalized an agreement on Wednesday [June 17, 2026] to secure a dedicated Canadian exhibit space at World Defense Show 2028 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [that will take place on January 16-20, 2028]. This agreement will establish the first-ever Canadian National Pavilion within the show’s North American Zone in 2028.
This will create a new platform for our future members and Canadian companies to showcase their capabilities and pursue opportunities in one of the world’s fastest-growing defence markets.”
This past week, CADSI also posted from Eurosatory: “We welcomed Trade Commissioner Service representatives covering Europe, the Middle East, and other priority markets to meet with our delegates, creating a unique opportunity for Canadian companies to pursue growth abroad.”
Canadian arms exports to Saudi Arabia
The 2025 Annual Report on Strategic Goods and Technologies Pursuant to Section 27 of the Export and Import Permits Act, published by Global Affairs Canada, notes: “Saudi Arabia was the largest non-U.S. export destination by value, receiving approximately $404 million in Canadian military exports (accounting for approximately 19.8% of the total value of non-U.S. military exports)…”
In 2014, the Government of Canada signed a $14.8 billion deal with the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia (KSA) to deliver over 14 years an undisclosed number of light-armoured vehicles (LAVs) to be manufactured by General Dynamics Mission Systems Canada, based in London, Ontario. The deal was arranged by the Ottawa-based Canadian Commercial Corporation, a Crown corporation that brokers contracts between Canadian suppliers and foreign governments.
“No credible evidence”
Following a public outcry about the $14.8 billion sale of light-armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia, Global Affairs Canada conducted a risk assessment that in September 2019 concluded: “Officials found no credible evidence linking Canadian exports of military equipment or other controlled items to any human rights or humanitarian law violations committed by the Saudi government.”
In August 2021, Amnesty International and Project Ploughshares countered this assertion with their 50-page report: “No Credible Evidence” Canada’s flawed analysis of arms exports to Saudi Arabia.
Concerns for human rights defenders
In April 2026, Amnesty International further stated: “Despite a series of releases of individuals arrested for exercising their right to freedom of expression, authorities continued to severely restrict freedom of expression and association, with critics and human rights defenders facing long prison terms, grossly unfair trials, and arbitrary travel bans including for those recently released from detention.”
The Dublin-based Front Line Defenders also notes: “Human rights defenders, activists and individuals [in Saudi Arabia] who criticise government policies or express dissent or diverging opinion to those of the authorities are subjected to harassment, surveillance, arbitrary detention, smear campaigns, prolonged and unfair trials. Family members of HRDs [human rights defenders] are also targeted and subjected to intimidation and harassment at the hands of the authorities.”
Overall, in the Freedom in the World report produced by Freedom House, Saudi Arabia is given a score of 9/100 and is considered “not free”.
An agenda to increase arms exports
This past February 2026, “Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy” highlighted Canada’s intention to: “Substantially increase financial support for export promotion efforts, and add new Trade Commissioners in the UK and key EU markets and ramp up Canada’s presence at major global defence and aerospace trade shows.”
The Government of Canada says this means “a stronger and more visible Canadian presence at major international defence and aerospace trade shows.”
This “more visible Canadian presence” seemingly now includes the World Defense Show 2028 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 16-20, 2028.
Arms exports and human rights
As part of our commitment to accompaniment and the protection of the lives of human rights defenders, PBI-Canada is monitoring the relationship between weapons companies and human rights violations by State-based actors importing weapons that could be used against defenders, organizations and communities.
The Amsterdam-based Transnational Institute recently called on European governments to “create a binding human rights, environmental and due diligence exclusion framework for European Union funding, preventing public money from going to companies involved in war crimes, occupation, repression, genocide, environmental destruction or serious human rights abuses.”
We continue to follow this.
