Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman named prime minister of Saudi Arabia
Mohammed bin Salman "will be the prime minister", according to a royal decree from King Salman published by the official Saudi Press Agency.
The Crown Prince, who is set to sit on the throne after his father King Salman, already possesses a wide range of authority and is regarded as the de facto ruler of the Kingdom.
He is being replaced as defence minister by his younger brother, Khalid bin Salman, who was previously deputy defence minister.
The heads of other critical ministries, including interior, foreign and energy, remained in place, according to a royal decree from King Salman published by the official Saudi Press Agency.
Prince Mohammed, who turned 37 last month, has been first in line to succeed his father as king since 2017. He became defence minister in 2015, a key step in a swift consolidation of power that saw him take the lead on major portfolios.
MBS’s father – the 86-year-old monarch – was hospitalised for medical examinations and treatments in May 2022. As per the latest decree announcing the 37-year-old crown prince’s prime ministership, the king remains the head of state and will continue to chair cabinet meetings he attends.
Even before he was named the heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been taking an active interest in running the kingdom and has drastically, and as some would say radically, changed the face and the international perception of Saudi Arabia. As the kingdom’s Defence Minister, MBS led Operation Decisive Storm against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels – in March 2015.
While Saudi Arabia is mostly known for its oil, it also has gold, phosphate, uranium and many other valuable minerals, according to the Crown Prince. However, as per him, The true richness of Saudi Arabia is found in the aspirations of its citizens and the potential of its younger generation. “Our people will amaze the world again,” he said.
