Diplomacy

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New Saudi King Pledges to Continue Policies of Abdullah

Saudi Arabia’s new monarch, King Salman, pledged to continue the policies of his predecessor and half-brother Abdullah, who died yesterday.

Reuters reports:

Salman, thought to be 79, takes over as the ultimate authority in a country that faces long-term domestic challenges compounded by the plunging price of oil in recent months and the rise of the Islamic State militant group in Iraq and Syria, which vows to toppled the Al Saud ruling family.

Salman must navigate an intense rivalry with Shi’ite Muslim power Iran playing out in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Bahrain, open conflict in two neighboring states, a threat from Islamist militants and bumpy relations with the United States.

In his first speech as king, shown live on Saudi television, Salman pledged to maintain the same approach to ruling the world’s top oil exporter and birthplace of Islam as his predecessors and called for unity among Arab states.

Reuters also reports that Salman appointed the next two in line for the throne, “half-brother Muqrin, 69, as Crown Prince and nephew Mohammed bin Nayef, 55, as Deputy Crown Prince.”

In an analysis written earlier this month for Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), Yoel Guzansky explained that Muqrin may well be the effective ruler of Saudi Arabia during the course of Salman’s reign.

In order to ensure governmental stability, in March 2014 Abdullah appointed Prince Muqrin, his 70-year-old right hand man and the youngest surviving son of Ibn Saud, as crown prince in waiting. This appointment, which symbolized the desire for continuity over the choice of progress and change, further postponed the transfer of leadership in the kingdom to the generation of Ibn Saud’s grandsons. And while Muqrin, a fighter pilot by training, was the governor of a Medina and the head of intelligence, his path to the crown is strewn with obstacles: he is opposed by many of his half brothers, primarily because he is the son of a maidservant of Yemeni origin. Because of Salman’s health, it is likely that Muqrin will de facto fill the role of king. If he succeeds in overcoming opposition at home, thanks to his relative youth and good health, Muqrin can also rule for many years. However, it is not inconceivable that as king, Salman will seek to appoint another successor, from his branch of the family, to replace Muqrin – a move that could set off a succession battle within the House of Saud.

Guzansky also wrote that Abdullah “apparently asked Muqrin, in exchange for his appointment, to appoint Mutab [Abdullah’s son] in the future as crown prince.”

[Photo: Associated Press / YouTube ]