For a leader whose toxicity over a horrific killing made him a pariah, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has come a remarkably long way.

On Tuesday night, the kingdom‘s 40-year-old crown prince, know n as MBS, was feted by U. S. President Donald Trump at a black-tie state banquet at the White House — a day after Trump announced the U.S. would sell Saudi Arabia the world's most advanced military aircraft, the F-35.

It completed what some analysts have likened to a “comeback tour” — a reset that could also have major implications for Canada.

“This is a country that is too big, too important regionally, too important globally," said Dennis Horak, who was Canada's ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2015-18.

“Under the current circumstances, with Canada look

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