Highlights
- Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes world leaders
- Mohammed bin Salman is taking over the command of the country from his elderly and ailing father
- King Salman is now rarely seen at public events in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s often controversial Prince Mohammed bin Salman is welcoming world leaders and attending summits. Mohammed bin Salman is taking over the reins of the country from his elderly and ailing father King Salman and has become the king of Saudi Arabia without the crown. Prince Mohammed bin Salman (36) is taking these steps at a time when his 86-year-old father King Salman is ailing.
King Salman is now rarely seen in public events. Prince Mohammed bin Salman was considered the real king of the country since he was made prince in June 2017. Mohammed bin Salman has risen to prominence after meeting with the French president this month and leading the Gulf Cooperation Council summit on Tuesday.
King Salman living in the city of Neom during the Corona period
Usually King Salman used to participate in this meeting held every year but he did not appear this time. Saudi affairs expert Yasmin Farooq says that a crown prince is the real ruler of the country but he only meets foreign presidents and takes part in summit meetings when the Saudi king is not in good health. He said, ‘What is new in this is that now there is a parallel acceptance at the national level and in the media. More importantly, there is an agreement to carry out all the responsibilities of the Crown Prince even when King Salman is still alive.
Ever since the corona virus has spread across the world, King Salman has been living in the city of Neom, which has been built on the shores of the Red Sea for future needs. He last met the then UK Foreign Minister Dominic Raab in Riyadh in March 2020. He went to Oman for the last time in January 2020 on a foreign trip. Prince Mohammed has developed himself as a leader of liberal Islam. However, his international fame went downhill when Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated.
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