Saudi Arabia Recalls Sweden Ambassador Amid Diplomatic Feud

Saudi Arabia called back its ambassador to Sweden, according to Swedish foreign ministry.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Sweden’s foreign ministry said Wednesday that Saudi Arabia has called back its ambassador to Sweden, as the diplomatic feud between the two countries deepens.

This comes a day after Sweden's government announced that the country would not extend its highly controversial military agreement with Saudi Arabia.

“The foreign ministry was informed yesterday that Saudi Arabia called back its ambassador. I do not know if he is still in the country,” Erik Boman, spokesman for Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, told Aftonbladet.

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia blocked Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom's planned speech at the Arab League summit in Cairo amid Sweden’s criticism of Riyadh's human rights record.

“The reasons that are given are Sweden's criticism and statements Wallstrom made on human rights and democracy,” Boman said.

At a meeting with Saudi diplomats yesterday, the Swedish side conveyed its hope that the Saudi ambassador would soon return to Stockholm, the spokesman added, stressing that the current situation does not mean that diplomatic relations between the two countries have been broken.

Ibrahim bin Saad bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim has been Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Sweden since last year. The 71-year-old diplomat has previously served as the country’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia and Egypt.