All About Saudi Arabia’s Controversial Crown Prince

Not since the reign of the country’s founder, Abdulaziz Al Saud, has so much power been concentrated in one man’s hands in Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman isn’t king, yet. But the 37-year-old royal essentially runs the country for his father, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, who is 86. The prince, who replaced his father as prime minister in late September, leapfrogged a generation of older uncles and cousins to become heir to the throne in one of the world’s last remaining absolute monarchies. He’s overseen changes that have shaken the kingdom to its core, loosening the religious restrictions that shaped the conservative Islamic society for decades. He’s also attempted to reduce the crude exporter’s dependence on oil and redefine its place in the world -- pushing for development in new sectors like tourism -- while increasing political repression. His supporters say his bold ambition and iron fist is what’s needed to salvage an unsustainable economy. His critics say he’s dictatorial, power-hungry and reckless.

When Joe Biden took office as US president in 2021, he avoided dealing with Prince Mohammed. In his election campaign, Biden had vowed to make Saudi Arabia a global “pariah” over the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents inside the country’s consulate in Istanbul. A US intelligence assessment concluded Prince Mohammed had likely approved an operation to capture or kill Khashoggi, a citizen of Saudi Arabia who was critical of its government. MBS has denied any involvement while accepting symbolic responsibility as the kingdom’s de facto ruler. Biden never went so far as to shun the Saudis entirely, but his administration insisted that the president would only engage with his “counterpart,” King Salman. By mid-2022, however, rising oil prices had put Biden under pressure to bring down inflation -- and thus to repair ties with Saudi Arabia, a swing producer that can ramp oil exports up or down. In mid-July, Biden met with MBS, the two men bumping fists for the camera and marking the end of the cold spell.