King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia has strengthened the position of the next generation in the ruling Al Saud family in a welcome endorsement of younger talent, which is very good news for both the Saudis and the region. At a time of continuing violence and chaos, it is encouraging that younger officials with determination and vigour are being given more authority.
The appointment of the Interior Minister Prince Mohammad Bin Nayef as Crown Prince (replacing Prince Muqrin Bin Abdul Aziz) means the younger man will be able to take on significantly more responsibilities and help shape events. This appointment is also significant because Mohammad Bin Nayef is the first grandson of king Abdul Aziz to be immediately in line for the throne and this jumping of the generation gap greatly strengthens the long-term stability of the kingdom by offering clarity over the succession, which has been further strengthened by King Salman appointing his son, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, as Deputy Crown Prince to follow Mohamamd Bin Nayef.
The dominant political issue in the region is the fight against Daesh (the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) and Al Qaida and Mohammad Bin Nayef has gained wide respect for his success in cracking down on Al Qaida between 2003 and 2006 while also playing an active role in foreign policy. The new leadership in Saudi Arabia under King Salman may be more willing to talk to constitutional Islamists than its predecessors, but will be extremely tough on extra-constitutional groups that frequently use violence and terror to support their aims.
A further important change was to relieve the long-serving foreign minister, Prince Saud Al Faisal, who has been in charge of Saudi foreign policy for four decades. In his place, King Salman appointed Adel Al Jubeir, who has been the Saudi Ambassador in Washington since 2007 where he is regarded as skilled and effective and should therefore be able to maintain the important links between Saudi Arabia and the US and also convey the Arab perspective more effectively to the White House.
