Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the youngest post-85th monarch on the surface, has a net worth of 15 trillion, a rising political star. Born in Riyadh in 1985, he is not only the eldest son of the old king, but also an aspiring royal.
At the age of 15, Salman Jr. began to report to his father on the state of affairs, immersed himself in reading the biography of the emperor, and prepared for the future political path. However, the old king, who met mortals, set off an "Arab storm" by reforming the succession system and making Salman Jr. the crown prince.
In November 2017, Salman Jr. launched an anti-corruption storm against royals struggling over oil. More than 500 members of the royal family were placed under house arrest at the Riyadh Ritz-Carlton Hotel, while Salman Jr. quickly consolidated his power by attracting foreign investment through a lax business policy and bureaucratic cuts. He decisively removed the stumbling blocks and ushered Saudi Arabia into a new era.
Salman Jr. has put forward Vision 2030, which seeks to break away from over-dependence on oil through economic diversification and social progress. He has adopted a liberal business policy, cut benefits for the people, and promoted a "Saudiization" policy that requires companies to hire at least 70 percent of their citizens in order to change the sloth culture in the Kingdom. At the same time, he is committed to promoting social progress, promoting women's rights, and breaking down gender discrimination and religious conservatism.
However, these radical reforms provoked a strong social outcry. Conservatives have criticized him for blasphemy, while thousands of clerics have launched an "anti-Salman Jr." campaign. Salman Jr. took a tough stance, dispersed the ** masses, arrested key elements, and insisted that the reform was to make the Saudi people live a happier and richer life.
On the diplomatic front, Salman Jr.'s assertive posture has made Western allies feel tricky. He severed diplomatic relations with Qatar, adjusted his attitude toward Iran, and emphasized an independent diplomatic strategy. Relations with the United States have deteriorated, especially after Biden took office, and Salman Jr. has shown firm confidence in the face of criticism.
However, Salman Jr.'s hard-line style has also sparked controversy. He excluded dissidents through political purges, put his own mother under house arrest for two years, and was charged with ** dissident journalists. These accusations led to him being labeled a "tyrant", which attracted widespread attention at home and abroad.
In terms of private life, although Salman Jr. has a wealth of hundreds of billions, his daily life is quite low-key. He had only one wife, four sons, and rarely appeared in public. His extravagant and low-key two-sided life makes people reverie about his contradictory character.
As the youngest person in power in the Middle East, Salman Jr. represents the collision of new thinking and old forces. His actions are influencing the fate of hundreds of millions of Muslims and shaping the political landscape of the Middle East.
In this "Arab storm", Salman Jr.'s thoughts will determine the direction of Saudi Arabia's progress. In the turbulent geopolitics, his power politics may be forced by the times, and it is also the key to maintaining the bottom line.