After months out of the spotlight, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince took center stage with diplomatic and economic measures designed to court the new US president.
Joe Biden is expected to be less complacent with Mohammed bin Salman, known as MbS, especially on the topics of Saudi Arabian archenemy Iran and human rights.
And the Crown Prince knows he will not take advantage of Donald Trump’s protection, diplomats say.
The reformist image of MbS suffered an outbreak in 2018, with the assassination of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by agents seen as close to the prince, and his measures to crush dissidents and marginal rivals.
He denies having ordered Khashoggi’s death.
However, this year – MbS is back.
This rare TV appearance last week was to reveal a zero-carbon city – to show new economic momentum and try to attract frightened foreign investors.
Voluntary cuts in Saudi oil production to help stabilize oil markets was another important economic step.
There were also high-level diplomatic movements.
In January, MbS chaired this Gulf summit and announced reconciliation with Qatar, ending a dispute that is seen as parochial in the West,
And trying to present himself as a statesman and pragmatic.
President-elect Biden is expected to meet with Tehran and take a firmer stand on Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and the devastating Yemen war.
Riyadh, which has benefited from Trump’s support and the hard-line campaign against Iran, is against returning to the 2015 nuclear deal.
Therefore, MbS is looking to present Saudi Arabia as a moderating force that should be involved in future negotiations.
The nervousness about Biden in Iran was one of the reasons why the kingdom pressured the Trump administration to blacklist the Iran-based Youth Houthi group, which launched attacks in Saudi Arabia across the border.
UN officials warn that this could lead Yemen to a famine on a large scale and are asking Biden to end the measure that goes into effect on Tuesday (January 19).
Other recent Saudi gestures include reduced prison sentences for a prominent women’s rights activist and a Saudi doctor in the United States, whose case was seen as politically motivated.
Even when Riyadh showed that he would not tolerate dissension, they were seen as a nod to Biden.
Video transcription
[? MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN: ?] [SPEAKING ARABIC]
– After months out of the spotlight, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince took center stage with diplomatic and economic measures designed to court the new US president. Joe Biden is expected to be less complacent with Muhammad bin Salman, known as MbS, especially on the topics of Saudi Arabian archenemy Iran and human rights. And the Crown Prince knows he will not take advantage of Donald Trump’s protection, diplomats say.
The reformist image of MbS suffered an outbreak in 2018, with the assassination of “Washington Post” columnist Jamal Khashoggi by agents considered close to the prince and his steps to crush dissidents and marginalized rivals. He denies having ordered Khashoggi’s death.
MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN: [SPEAKING ARABIC]
– This year, however, MbS is back. This rare TV appearance last week was to reveal a zero-carbon city, to show new economic momentum and to try to attract frightened foreign investors back. Voluntary cuts in Saudi oil production to help stabilize oil markets was another important economic step. There were also high-level diplomatic movements.
In January, MbS chaired this Gulf summit and announced reconciliation with Qatar, ending a dispute that is seen as parochial in the West and seeking to present itself as a statesman and pragmatist. President-elect Biden is expected to meet with Tehran and take a firmer stand on Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and the devastating Yemen war. Riyadh, which has benefited from Trump’s support and the hard-line campaign against Iran, is against the return of the 2015 nuclear deal. Therefore, MbS is looking to present Saudi Arabia as a moderating force that should be involved in future negotiations. .
The nervousness about Biden in Iran was one of the reasons why the kingdom pressured the Trump administration to blacklist the Iran-based Youth Houthi group, which launched attacks in Saudi Arabia across the border. UN officials warn that this could lead Yemen to a famine on a large scale and are asking Biden to end the measure that takes effect on Tuesday. Other recent Saudi gestures include reduced prison sentences for a prominent women’s rights activist and a Saudi doctor in the United States, whose case was seen as politically motivated. Even when Riyadh showed that he would not tolerate dissension, they were seen as a nod to Biden.