Why a Saudi Prince Was Treated Like a King in DC

I first met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh in 2018. He took me to several workstations in his cavernous offices, showing off the ambitious projects and technological advancements needed to diversify his economy. My after-visit summary was: “He has lightning in his veins.” ­I meant that in two ways: the positive sense of great energy, and the negative of rash unpredictability.

Given that he is only 40, MBS (as he is known) will likely be the absolute ruler of his land for many decades. There is no underplaying the significance of his arrival in Washington to meet with President Donald Trump this week, especially given the heightened geopolitical stakes in the region and the increasingly shared global interests of the US and Saudi Arabia.