The rise and rule of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince: Power, oil, and controversy
In January 2015, the 90-year-old King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia was dying in the hospital. His half-brother, Salman, was about to become king, and Salman’s favorite son, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), was preparing for power. At just 29 years old, MBS had big plans for his kingdom, but he feared that plotters within the Saudi royal family could eventually move against him. At midnight one evening that month, he summoned Saad al-Jabri, a senior security official, to the palace, determined to win his loyalty. Both men left their mobile phones outside and disconnected the only landline telephone to avoid palace spies.
During this meeting, MBS outlined his vision for the future of Saudi Arabia. He intended to awaken the kingdom from its “deep slumber” and secure its rightful place on the global stage. His plans included selling a stake in Aramco, the world’s most profitable company, to reduce economic dependence on oil, and investing billions in Silicon Valley tech startups like Uber. By enabling Saudi women to join the workforce, he aimed to create six million new jobs. When asked about the extent of his ambition, MBS simply responded, “Have you heard of Alexander the Great?”
For the past year, a documentary team has been investigating MBS’s rise to power, interviewing both his allies and opponents, as well as senior Western spies and diplomats. The Saudi government declined to respond to the claims made in the documentary and article. Saad al-Jabri, once a high-ranking official in the Saudi security apparatus and a confidant to the heads of the CIA and MI6, has spoken out against MBS. Despite the Saudi government’s efforts to discredit Jabri, his detailed account sheds light on how MBS governs Saudi Arabia.
As MBS’s father becomes increasingly frail, the 38-year-old crown prince now wields de facto control over Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam and the world’s largest oil exporter. While he has carried out many of his ambitious plans, MBS is also accused of human rights violations, including suppressing free speech, the widespread use of the death penalty, and jailing women’s rights activists.
MBS was not always destined for power. When his father, Salman, was elevated in the line of succession, Western intelligence agencies did not consider MBS a significant figure. However, he quickly proved himself to be ruthless and ambitious, earning the nickname “Abu Rasasa” or “Father of the Bullet” in his late teens after allegedly sending a bullet in the mail to a judge who had overruled him in a property dispute.
As Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister, MBS launched a military campaign in Yemen in 2015, leading a Gulf coalition against the Houthi movement. The campaign triggered a humanitarian disaster, with millions on the brink of famine. MBS’s decision to intervene in Yemen, against American advice, marked the beginning of his reputation for impulsive and unpredictable decision-making.
MBS’s actions have been both praised and criticized. He has cut off Saudi funding to overseas mosques and religious schools that bred Islamist jihadism, benefiting global security. However, his willingness to take risks, such as purchasing the Salvator Mundi for $450 million, and his efforts to reshape Saudi Arabia’s role on the world stage, reflect a leader who is determined to assert his power, regardless of Western opinion.
MBS’s rule has not been without controversy. His consolidation of power led to the exile of Saad al-Jabri, who fled Saudi Arabia after being warned of potential danger. MBS allegedly attempted to lure Jabri back to the kingdom with promises of reinstating his old job, but Jabri refused, fearing for his life. Jabri’s children were later detained and jailed on charges they deny.
The 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul implicated MBS in a crime that shocked the world. Although MBS denied direct involvement, a declassified US intelligence report in 2021 asserted his complicity in the killing.
As MBS prepares to rule Saudi Arabia potentially for the next 50 years, he remains a man on a mission to modernize his country. However, his ruthless approach raises concerns that he may be prone to making more mistakes, with few around him daring to intervene.
Credit: BBC
