Originally Published in EconoMonitor

By Marvin Zonis
AIC Board Member

Saudi Arabia has entered a period of unusual danger from internal as well as external threats. The man apparently in charge of overcoming these threats appears ill equipped to do so.

Salman bin Abdul Aziz al Saud became King of Saudi Arabia on January 23, 2015. The 79 year old Monarch is reported to suffer from dementia and has had a stroke, both of which have been denied by the Royal Court. But he uses a walking stick and reportedly looks puzzled during meetings with foreigners. In mid-May, King Salman failed to attend a summit meeting of Gulf leaders in Washington and Camp David hosted by President Obama. In his place he sent the new Crown Prince, Muhammad bin Nayef, and the new Deputy Crown Prince, Muhammad bin Salman, his sixth son from his third wife.

Who actually runs the Kingdom is not clear but increasingly it appears to be that son.