Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has acted swiftly and decisively since assuming the throne in January. Following a series of senior appointments over the past few months, he issued decrees yesterday that change the line of succession, promoting the interior minister, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, to the position of crown prince in place of Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz. King Salman also appointed his son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as deputy crown prince. Long-serving foreign minister Prince Saud Al Faisal, who reportedly asked to be relieved of his post due to ill health, has been replaced by the ambassador to the United States, Adel Al Jubeir.
The appointments, along with a reshuffle of some other cabinet posts, may have been a surprise to some but they have been widely welcomed. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, have sent congratulatory cables to the new crown prince and his deputy, wishing them success.
As well as offering clarity about succession in the kingdom, the appointments can be seen as a restatement of Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy and the way it views its own role in the world. Prince Mohammed bin Nayef has been widely praised for tackling Al Qaeda influences in the kingdom, while Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as defence minister, has played a major part in the Saudi-led military campaign against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Mr Al Jubeir, who has degrees from two American universities and has represented Saudi Arabia in Washington since 2007, has been a strong voice in support of Saudi action in Yemen.
With the Yemen campaign now entering a new phase, participation in the US-led coalition against ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq, and the arrests this week of 93 suspected ISIL members in Saudi Arabia, security is clearly a major issue for the kingdom. The region as a whole benefits when Saudi Arabia is strong and secure.
