Saudi Arabia: Al-Salman consolidate

The Royal Court’s 21 June announcement that Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdelaziz Al-Saud (MBS) was promoted from deputy to crown prince will spur a fresh round of palace intrigue and could yet test whether there is sufficient consensus within the family about MBS’s rise to pole position. In London and other capitals that have long appreciated former crown prince Mohammed Bin Nayef (MBN) – including the intelligence and foreign affairs communities in Washington DC – regional specialists and security services will miss the reassurance of working with a seasoned professional.