TOWARDS THE 4TH AL SAUD STATE? SAUDI ARABIA UNDER MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN
Fatiha Dazi-Heni
Researcher on Arabian Peninsula and Gulf regional and security issues, IRSEM: Institute for Strategic Research of Ecole Militaire, Paris; and Associate professor at the Political Institute of Lille
In June 2017 King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud replaced Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef with his own son, Mohammed bin Salman. Since then MbS, as he is often called, has sought to consolidate his power, also acting against possible competitors in the Saud family, and pressed ahead with his plans for economic and social liberalization. The youngest defense minister in the world is at the forefront of a new assertive and hardliner regional policy in strong cooperation with his mentor, Mohammed Bin Zayed, Crown prince of Abu Dhabi.
Moderation: Gudrun Harrer, Senior Editor, Der Standard; Lecturer on Modern History and Politics of the Middle East, University of Vienna and Diplomatic Academy of Vienna