, Columnist
Saudi Arabia's Brash Prince Takes His Show on the Road
For MbS to re-invent his economy, he needs help not just from Washington but also Wall Street, Silicon Valley and even Hollywood.
A couple of dealmakers.
Photographer: Mark Wilson/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman arrived in Washington Monday for his first visit to the U.S. as presumptive heir to the throne. The trip comes at a crucial time in U.S.-Saudi relations, and a potential turning point in American policy toward the Middle East in general. But it is also telling that the visit won't be confined to Washington: MbS, as the prince is known, will also be visiting Boston, New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Houston.
The time-span and breadth of travel is a strong indication of how much is at stake for the brash 32-year-old national leader, and how central Saudi Arabia's political and economic relationship with the U.S. is to his national, and personal, strategy.