Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) will not attend the upcoming G7 Summit in Canada. A senior diplomat told Reuters that MBS did not provide a reason for declining the invitation. The summit will be held from June 15 to 17 in Kananaskis, a resort area in the Canadian Rockies.
Although Saudi Arabia is not a G7 member, it often receives guest invitations to this annual event. MBS has limited international travel in recent years. He skipped last year’s G7 Summit in Italy and postponed a planned visit to Japan due to his father King Salman’s health concerns.
The news may ease tensions within Canada’s ruling Liberal party. Some members had opposed inviting MBS, citing concerns over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. The kingdom denies these accusations, but the Crown Prince remains a controversial figure globally.
Leaders from Ukraine, Mexico, India, Australia, South Africa, South Korea, and Brazil are expected to attend parts of the summit. U.S. President Donald Trump will also be present, focusing on major global economic and security issues.
Saudi Arabia’s government media office did not respond immediately to Reuters’ request for comment. The summit will tackle topics like climate change, economic recovery, and geopolitical tensions among member countries.