Very recently this year, Canada sent a tweet to Saudi Arabia demanding that it immediately release all detained human rights activists. The Saudi government attacked Canada and severed all ties with this country. This event highlighted an existing argument: “Do countries have a moral obligation to criticize others?” » Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayPublic criticism is one of the least effective ways a country can solve a problem. It is not effective, it can create enemies and lead to many other unintended consequences such as a decrease in the economy. Openly criticizing a nation is very ineffective. When a country receives a negative comment from another nation, it will be very defensive (especially if that recipient is a monarch), wanting to publicly display its strength for its people to see. In many cases, rebellions can begin if the people view their king/queen/prince as a weak ruler. Additionally, the issues discussed may be based on the cultural or religious views of the people. These people see many things in life differently, so imposing a Western view on them will make no sense. A better way to voice your concerns would be to hold private meetings, where leaders can make judgments without showing signs of weakness. The country will likely also be offended by this comment, creating an unnecessary enemy. Saudi Arabia has made enemies with Germany and Sweden for similar reasons to Canada. Saudi Arabia no longer trades with these three countries, costing them all considerable losses. Having an enemy begrudge you is a potentially dangerous situation, especially in the case of war (perhaps even World War III). Many more consequences will follow unless an apology is issued, but even then there are no guarantees. The economic situation of our country is at stake. Canada could lose up to $1.4 billion in the arms trade with this large Middle Eastern country. Travel is also restricted between the two countries, which could also play a minor role in the economy. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Not only will Canada's economy be worse off, but the problem we solved could have gotten worse. By intervening, the Saudi government is obliged to show force, and what better way to do that than to execute the human rights activists who caused the problem. Making tweets about how another country manages its internal affairs public could lead to disastrous results. A major trading partner turned enemy and a worsening economic situation could result, only after hearing your opinion but choosing to ignore it. Holding confidential meetings to discuss would avoid any negative outcomes, while gaining more respect from the other country. Fulfilling moral obligations cannot put your own nation at risk.