Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Named Prime Minister
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was recently promoted to the post of prime minister. He is in charge of overseeing the country’s bloody war in Yemen and denies involvement in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. What does this mean for Saudi Arabia?
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman promoted to prime minister
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country’s de facto leader, was recently promoted to prime minister by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman. He previously held the post of defence minister. This move is a major development for Saudi Arabia, where the generational power structure is shifting. The country has been relying on oil for decades, but Prince Mohammed’s policies have made it less dependent on oil. He has introduced numerous reforms including allowing women to drive and curtailing the power of clerics in society.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is a highly educated Saudi prince who has a proven track record in government. He has a law degree from King Saud University and spent many years shadowing his father. He has also founded several companies and a nonprofit organization to promote entrepreneurship in the kingdom. His rise to power coincided with Salman’s ascension to the throne.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman oversees bloody war in Yemen
Saudi Arabia is worried about its young crown prince overseeing a bloody war in Yemen. The war started in March 2015, when the kingdom began bombing Houthi rebels, who it considered to be Iranian proxy forces. It then announced the formation of a multinational coalition to fight the rebels. In the early months, the war in Yemen was expected to be a short one lasting just weeks or months.
The war is dragging on with increasing civilian casualties and the U.S. Congress is considering sanctions against Riyadh. However, the Saudi Crown Prince is refusing to apologize for the Khashoggi killing and has been avoiding the limelight. This has damaged relations with the U.S. and other Western nations.
The war in Yemen is a secondary game for Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose primary goal is to consolidate Saudi as a central power in the region. He wants to rule Saudi Arabia for two generations, and he sees Iran as the real cause of the Houthis’ rise.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman denies involvement in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi
Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has denied any involvement in the killing of the Saudi journalist. The US intelligence community found that the crown prince approved a plan to kill or capture Khashoggi. In light of the revelation, the United States has placed sanctions on dozens of Saudi officials, but did not target the crown prince. Nevertheless, the US has condemned the killing and vowed to take action.
Saudi authorities denied knowledge of Khashoggi’s death and claimed that the journalist died in a fight inside the consulate. But they later admitted that he died as a result of a “rogue operation.” While they deny any involvement in the killing, they did acknowledge that the killing was a “deplorable crime” and a “flagrant violation” of Saudi law.
