, Columnist
Is the New Saudi Heir the Right Man for the Job?
Prince Mohammed bin Salman could be too inexperienced and too hotheaded for the fraught situation in the Middle East.
The new crown prince.
Photographer: Fayez Nureldine/AFP -- Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The abrupt change in Saudi Arabia's line of royal succession will probably help maintain the House of Saud's sway over its 31 million people, 70 percent of which are under 30. It is, however, a dangerous move in the context of a new Big Game unfolding in the Middle East, which involves the U.S. and Russia as well as local players.
QuickTake Saudi Arabia's Strains