Kelsey Gallagher tracks Canadian weapons exports with the arms control organization Project Ploughshares.
Canada’s arms export data reveal a disturbing trend: billions in military goods flowing to authoritarian governments accused of human rights abuses. Global autocracies now outnumber democracies, and Canada appears happy to sell arms to the highest bidder.
The Saudi regime is responsible for one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises through its war in Yemen. The Biden administration has now frozen arms sales to the Saudis, but Justin Trudeau’s government seems happy to step into the breach as their gunrunner of choice.