Norway announced yesterday it was suspending new licenses for arms exports to the Middle Eastern country. The move is a fresh blow to Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MbS). His regime has faced increasing pressure from the international community after the murder of dissident, Mr Khashoggi, at the Saudi consulate last month.
The journalist was brutally tortured before being killed in an attack which the country’s authorities first tried to cover up.
Norway’s foreign minister, Ine Eriksen Soereide, said in a statement: “We have decided that in the present situation we will not give new licenses for the export of defence material or multipurpose goods for military use to Saudi Arabia.”
The country has declined to comment on whether the action related specifically to Mr Khashoggi’s killing.
A spokesman said the decision was made following recent developments in the Gulf Kingdom and the situation in Yemen.
Turkey claimed last month to have evidence MBS’s regime had murdered the journalist after he visited the consulate, leading to international uproar.
Saudi Arabia has found itself being snubbed by allies as a result of their horrific actions.
The country had continually changed its story about what happened why the dissident visited the consulate as they try to pacify the growing criticism of their actions.
Originally the Middle East regime refused responsibility for his death and claimed Mr Khashoggi had left the consulate unharmed.
Then they argued he had died after a fight broke out before finally confirming his murder had been premeditated.
The country’s attorney general said: “The suspects in the incident had committed their act with a premeditated intention.
“The Public Prosecution continues its investigations with the accused in the light of what it has received and the results of its investigations to reach facts and complete the course of justice.”
US President Donald Trump has condemned Saudi’s actions and has been critical of their explanations into what happened.
Shortly after the murder, he said: “They had a very bad original concept, it was carried out poorly, and the cover-up was one of the worst in the history of cover-ups.”