Is Mohammed bin Salman gaining upper hand in Saudi Arabia?
Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed's visit to Washington this month has some observers believing he might be the man behind all the major decisions in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman is expected in New York on June 22 to meet with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. His visit is an apparent attempt to settle the dispute that resulted from Ban accusing Riyadh of applying undue pressure on the United Nations to remove the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen from a list of entities violating children's rights.
US President Barack Obama had hosted Mohammed on June 17 at the White House. Following the meeting, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said at a press conference that it had been positive, focusing on the strategic relationship between the two countries and on ways the relationship can be strengthened. Furthermore, Obama was briefed about the kingdom’s outlook as presented in Saudi Vision 2030, the economic reform plan prepared by McKinsey & Company to guide Saudi Arabia in developing an economy based on sustainable investments, regardless of oil prices and fluctuations.
