The Saudi king chooses Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as prime minister.

According to a royal decree published on Tuesday, King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia appointed Prince Khalid as the country’s defence minister and his second son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as the nation’s prime minister.
Prince Abdul-Aziz bin Salman, another son, was retained as energy minister, according to the ailing king’s royal proclamation, which was reported by the official news agency SPA.
The proclamation states that the ministers of foreign affairs, finance, and investments will all continue to be held by Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Mohammed al-Jadaan, and Khalid al-Falih, respectively.
The crown prince, also known as MbS, was previously the defence minister and has served as Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler since becoming the region’s top oil exporter and a key ally of the United States.
According to a Saudi official, Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s new position is consistent with the obligations the monarch previously assigned to him, which included representing the country abroad and serving as summit chair.
According to a royal decree issued on Tuesday, King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia appointed Prince Khalid as the country’s defence minister and his second son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as the nation’s prime minister.
According to the royal edict, which was relayed by the official news agency SPA, Prince Abdul-Aziz bin Salman, another son, was retained in his position as Energy Minister.
The proclamation stated that Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, minister of foreign affairs, Mohammed al-Jadaan, and minister of finance, and Khalid al-Falih, minister of investments, all remained in their positions.
A Saudi official said on Tuesday that Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s new post is in line with the duties the monarch had previously given him, including summit chair and representing the nation abroad.
The official stated that the crown prince’s new role as prime minister fits into the context of his current daily oversight of the state’s major executive bodies, which is done in accordance with the king’s orders.
Since coming to power in 2017, Crown Prince Mohammed has made significant changes to Saudi Arabia, including measures to diversify the economy away from its reliance on oil, permitting women to drive, and limiting the influence of clerics.
De facto Saudi Arabian ruler
The crown prince, widely known as MbS, formerly held the positions of defence minister and de facto head of state in Saudi Arabia. Leading oil exporter in the area and a vital ally of the US is Saudi Arabia.
Previously, Prince Khalid bin Salman, MbS’s younger brother, served as deputy defence minister. The proclamation states that King Salman will continue to lead cabinet meetings.
The 86-year-old King, who is in charge of the most sacred places in Islam, ascended to the throne in 2015 after more than two and a half years as crown prince. He has stayed in the hospital several times over the past two years.
Effects of MbS
Prince Mohammed has significantly altered Saudi Arabia since taking office in 2017, enabling women to drive, lessening the dominance of the clerics in society, and attempting to diversify the economy away from its reliance on oil.
His reforms have, however, been accompanied by a stern crackdown on dissent, that has resulted in the incarceration of activists, royals, proponents of women’s rights, and corporations.
The kingdom’s ties with the United States and other Western allies have become strained as a result of the murder of Saudi journalist Khashoggi at the country’s consulate in Istanbul in 2018.