A “Liberal” Arms Deal? The Canadian Sale of LAVs to Saudi Arabia

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• The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia holds the world’s largest oil

reserves, is the world’s leading oil exporter, and has considerable

influence on the global economy. Canada has partnered with

Saudi Arabia, through its foreign policy, to promote regional and

international peace and security with counter-terrorism strategies.

1

• Saudi Arabia is Canada’s largest two-way trading partner in the

Middle East.

1

• Since 1993, “the Government of Canada has granted export

permits to General Dynamics Land Systems Canada (GDLS-C)

for the sale of 3,000 armed light armoured vehicles (LAVs),

associated weapon systems, spare parts and technical data to

Saudi Arabia.”

1

• The Liberals approved a renewed version of this deal in April

2016 even though Saudi Arabia had been charged by human rights

groups with violations against their Shi’a minority population.

Introduction

The Question

Arguments to Support Granting the Permit

Arguments to Support Denying the Permit

Alternative potential explanation

Domestic economic incentives:

• Canadian sales of military goods since 1993 have amounted to

“$52.5 billion, 90% of these sales are from LAVs.”

1

• General Dynamic Land Systems Canada (GDLS-C), based in

London Ont. makes “85% of its revenue from exports” and

approval of this deal aids in international investments in Canada

and keeps GDLS-C in the “network of suppliers.”

1

• GDLS-C employs 2,100 Canadians in London Ont.

1

• From a national defence and trade perspective, exporting LAVs

keeps and creates jobs for Canadians in Canada, boosts economy

and ensures a “strong viable defence industrial base in Canada”

promoting Canada’s defence industry.

1

Conclusions

Although the Government has found arguments in favor of

renewing this deal with Saudi Arabia (it promotes domestic

economic incentives, supports a powerful ally in the Middle East

without having to send troops, and continues a long term

multilateral alliance between world powers in order to expand

security, trade and influence), it has not made a convincing

argument that the fourth criteria for allowing the sale, that of

protecting human rights, was met. Therefore, not only should

Canada not have allowed the sale, but by doing so using weak

justifications, the Liberal government has damaged its reputation

as a human rights defender.

Acknowledgements & References

I acknowledge and respect the Lkwungen-speaking peoples on whose traditional territory the University stands and the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ peoples whose

relationships to this land is continuous and ongoing. I would also like to thank the

University of Victoria for this opportunity to investigate an interesting topic and a special thank you to my supervisor Dr. Carla Winston for guiding and encouraging this research.

1. Global Affairs Canada. 2016.

http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/assets/pdfs/documents/Memorandum_for_Action-eng.pdf.

2. Global Affairs Canada.2017. “Export Controls Handbook.”

http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/export-exportation/exp_ctr_handbook-manuel_ctr_exp-p2.aspx?lang=eng#a_1.

3. Dowding, Keith M. 2011. Encyclopedia of Power. 1st ed. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage.

4. Amnesty International. 2011, 2016, 2017.“Key Elements for Implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).”

https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ac t30/129/2011/en/.

https://www.amnesty.ca/news/light-armed-vehicles-sold-saudi-arabia-could-make-canada-accomplice-human-rights-violations.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/middle-east-and-north-africa/yemen/report-yemen/.

5. Musa, Shavana. 2017. “The Saudi-Led Coalition in Yemen, Arms Exports and Human Rights: Prevention Is Better Than Cure.” Journal of Conflict & Security Law, 433-462. Oxford University Press.

6. General Dynamics Annual Report. 2018. http://investorrelations.gd.com/financial-reports/annual-reports.

Although the Conservatives approved it initially, this renewed

deal does not fit within the supposedly liberal paradigm of

defending human rights. So why then has the Liberal

government approved it? Are the Liberals instead operating

within a realist paradigm in which state and international

security concerns override humanist principles?

Canada’s Objective and Export Control Requirements:

2

Department of Political Science, Research supported by Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Award

Sarah Jansen, March 7, 2018

Supervisor: Dr. Carla Winston

A “Liberal” Arms Deal? The Canadian Sale of LAVs to Saudi Arabia

The Deal

• The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia made a $15-billion contractual

agreement in 2014 under the Harper government. This contract is

legally binding and “the Government of Saudi Arabia may sue for

damages in the event of breach of contract.”

1

• The GDLS-C “has never been denied a permit for any such export.”

Additionally, “Canada has sold thousands of LAVs to Saudi Arabia

since the 1990s.”

1

• The Liberals have renewed an $11 billion deal by issuing export

permits over the next four years.

1

• The permitting consultation process found that the export of LAVs

“is consistent with the Government of Canada’s overall foreign

policy and objectives for the country and the region concerned.”

1

• In order to grant an export licence for the sale of arms to a foreign

government, several branches of government must “advise that

these proposed exports are consistent with Canada’s defence and

security interests.”

1

Aftermath

In the news recently there have been talks by Foreign Affairs minister

Chrystia Freeland that Canada should ratify the ATT in order to

regulate exports to countries that violate human rights. The

government is also proposing two amendments to Bill C-47 on export

and import acts on licensing weapons.

1). Do not cause harm to Canada and its allies

• Theory: States are motivated to join alliances to add the power of other states to that of their own. This will help them counter threats they might face in the international system. During peacetime, alliances serve principally as

deterrents and conflict management devices.3

• Canada has a long standing defense relationship cemented after the threat of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Canada, USA and EU allies have provided

support to Saudi Arabia to defend itself against Iran and other proxies.1 • Canada’s other allies have also encouraged “Saudi Arabia to acquire the

means to defend itself” in an unstable region.1

• Saudi Arabia is responding to the continued expansionist threats of Iraq and Iran. Support through LAVs help instead of troops if war does break out.

• Causal logic: Canada is not causing harm because it is actually supporting an ally and maintaining an alliance instead.

2). Does not undermine national or international security

• Theory: Liberalism suggests that non-state actors, such as terrorist

organizations (i.e. ISIS), can disrupt national and international security because it acts as a direct threat to state sovereignty.

• The Department of Defence states, “Saudi Arabia is a key Western ally in the Middle East and supports international efforts to counter non-state actors such as ISIS in Iraq and Syria as well as counter instability in Yemen. The

acquisition of state-of-the-art armoured vehicles will assist Saudi Arabia in combating instability in the region, a goal which is consistent with Canada’s defence interests in the Middle East.”1

• This type of dual-use weaponry will not change the relative power balance in the Middle East, but will aid in national defence. So although Canada may be contributing to regional conflict, the threat to national and international

security needs to be quelled by state actors versus terrorist organizations. • So although Canada is contributing to regional conflicts, this is ultimately

meant to bolster international security, not undermine it.

3). Does not contribute to national or regional conflicts or

instability

• Theory: In an anarchical international system, powerful states such as Saudi Arabia must keep regional equilibrium and the balance of power, without attributing to the security dilemma.3

• Saudi Arabia is a key important and stable ally in a region “marred by instability, terrorism and conflict.”1

• Saudi Arabia is the “regional leader in promoting regional security and

stability against countering threats posed by Iranian regional expansion and growing domestic terrorist threats by ISIS from Iraq and Syria and countering

instability in Yemen and ongoing instabilities in neighbouring Bahrain.”1

• Although the use of these LAVs does not currently significantly disrupt power imbalances between Iran and Saudi Arabia, things could change depending on the outcome of the Yemeni conflict (which would indeed disrupt power

imbalances, as Yemen would now be allied to Iran).

4). Are not used to commit human rights violations

• Canada has signed (but not ratified) the global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which requires governments to “assess the risk of transferring arms,

ammunition or components to another country where they could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.”4

• Minister Dion told Amnesty International that “Canada had the strongest control standards in the world concerning the trade of goods of a military nature.”4

• Canada “raises issues of concern when necessary.”1

• To the best of the department’s knowledge, “there has been no indication that equipment of Canadian origin, including LAVs, may have been used in acts contrary to International Humanitarian law.”1

• Additionally, Saudi Arabia has assured “an independent team of specialists to assess and verify incidents of civilian casualties and to issue clear and

objective reports of such incidents.”1

1). Do not cause harm to Canada and its allies

• In neglecting to support our allies with goods and equipment, Canada would lose an ally. However, in equipping Saudi Arabia with dual-use

weapons/internal balancing, Canada could become a target for ISIS and affiliates.

• Canada signed the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) on April 2, 2013. Signing but not ratifying the Arms Trade Treaty keeps Canada in line with International law, however, going against the rules of this treaty can harm Canada’s

international reputation.5

• This alliance/external balancing could cause harm to Israel, which is an ally of the US, which is a principal ally of Canada.

2). Do not undermine national or international security.

• Supporting and aiding Saudi Arabia with LAVs could potentially make

Canada an ISIS target in the future, undermining Canadian national security. • National and international security can be strengthened “through the proper

regulation of the arms trade. With this, human rights should be more

comprehensively integrated into the way in which States assess transfers.”5

3). Does not contribute to national or regional conflicts or

instability

• The conflict has allowed terrorist organizations (ISIS, Al Qaeda) to breed

amidst the power vacuum created by the conflict especially in parts of Iraq and Syria.

• Due to conflict in Yemen, (proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Saudi

Arabia using LAVs against Iran and civilian infrastructure) there has been an influx of refugees moving into surrounding states, putting pressure on

governments to support non-citizens. This is a threat to human security and therefore can be a contributor to regional instability.

4). Are not used to commit human rights violations

• Canada knows about prevailing human rights issues in Saudi Arabia such as1

• Reported high number of executions • Suppression of political opposition • Application of corporal punishment

• Suppression of political of freedom of expression • Arbitrary arrest

• Ill-treatment of detainees

• Limitations on freedom of religion • Discrimination against women • Mistreatment of migrant workers

• The Government of Canada also released a 22 page document Human Rights report on Saudi Arabia in 2015 recording evidence of human rights

violations, as well as advisory reports from NGOs and other international governments.

• Global reputation as a hypocrite makes future efforts on human rights more difficult.

• Saudi Arabia is intentionally targeting civilians and attacking humanitarian organizations through the use of “aerial bombardment, indiscriminate

shelling, and the use of artillery rockets against civilian areas.”4

• Engaging in conflict is in a sense a human rights violation, therefore, using these vehicles in conflict means violating human rights with LAVs.

• The supplier of the LAVs, General Dynamics, have cutting-edge technologies and “modernize and increase the lethality of the vehicles” regularly.6

• Approval of this deal creates tensions with Canada’s foreign policy priorities as human rights defenders.

Bill Graveland/The Canadian Press. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/saudi-arabia-top-non-u-s-destination-for-canadian-arms-exports-federal-report-1.4172182.

CBC News: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/canadian-rifles-may-have-fallen-into-yemen-rebel-hands-likely-via-saudi-arabia-1.3455889..

http://www.mapsland.com/asia/saudi-arabia/detailed-political-map-of-middle-east-with-major-cities-2003.