RIYADH — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has formally extended an invitation to Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to attend the G7 summit, according to the Canadian newspaper Global News. Leaders from the world's largest economies are set to gather in Kananaskis in Alberta for three days of talks that will begin on Sunday, June 15. The newspaper reported that the invitation stems from the Kingdom's status as a key player in Middle East diplomacy. "The Kingdom has been supportive of efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel continues to conduct a military offensive against Hamas that has created a humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory. The Kingdom has also hosted talks involving the United States on finding an end to Russia's war in Ukraine, a conflict that is expected to be among the major topics at the summit," the newspaper reported. Bloomberg has confirmed the Canadian invitation to Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It highlighted that the Kingdom's strategic importance is difficult to ignore, as it is a major player in two of the world's most important conflicts — Gaza and the Ukraine-Russia war. Furthermore, Saudi oil production remains, and will remain, a solid foundation for the stability of global energy prices. The Vision 2030 plan has made the Kingdom an attractive investment hub in vital sectors, led by technology and tourism. These are opportunities that Canada hopes to have a share of, according to Bloomberg. The Economic Times reported on Tuesday that diplomatic observers expect the G7 summit to affirm Saudi Arabia as a global player with a constructive role in a world plagued by turmoil and security fragility. "Saudi Arabia's strategic relevance is hard to ignore; its role in supporting cease‐fire pushes in Gaza and hosting US-Russia talks on Ukraine makes it a key actor on two fronts of global conflict. Saudi oil production remains a linchpin in global energy markets, and Riyadh's Vision 2030 is positioning the Kingdom as an investment magnet in sectors from tech to tourism, a dynamic that Ottawa hopes to tap," it said.
