Did Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman Con the West?
The crown prince knows how to please. In early March, Mohammed bin Salman, commonly known as MBS, was at Buckingham Palace for lunch with Queen Elizabeth II. It was the first official visit for the 32-year-old, and press coverage was glowing. “He’s a revolutionary!” proclaimed The Daily Telegraph. British conservatives loved MBS’s proposal to privatize Saudi Aramco, his state’s oil company, and list it on the London Stock Exchange—a nice boost to the flagging British economy, as well as his reputation as an economic reformer.
Later that month, he was in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump, followed by stops in Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Silicon Valley and Seattle to meet with Hollywood and tech elite—including Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk and Google executives.
This grand tour marked the crown prince’s international debut. His 82-year-old father, King Salman, ceded some of his own power last year, commending Vision 2030, MBS’s plan for social and economic liberalization. In the crown prince’s public statements, at least, he endorses the view that Saudi Arabia cannot survive forever on checkbook diplomacy abroad and government welfare at home. The goals include lessening the country’s dependence on oil exports; investing in education, entertainment and tourism; and invigorating the economy—in part by supporting
