A tale of two princes: how Saudi king’s son and Trump’s son-in-law masterminded visit
Saudi prince has crafted an ambitious ‘Saudi Vision 2030’ plan designed to gradually modernise his country, shifting from oil dependence to greener energy sources
They’ve been dubbed the two princes, the rising young powers behind the gilded thrones in the budding strategic alliance between the House of Saud and the House of Trump.
Jared Kushner married into Donald Trump’s family and now serves as the president’s ubiquitous senior adviser. His portfolio of domestic and foreign responsibilities seems to grow heavier by the day.
Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is the Saudi defence minister and head of the state oil monopoly. More importantly, he has emerged from a crowded field of Saudi royalty to be second in line to King Salman, his 81-year-old father, who inherited the crown two years ago.
Starting last winter, even before Trump took office, the two trusted family advisers quietly joined forces to try to mend US-Saudi relations strained by President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran, which the Saudi rulers opposed, and his moralising on human rights, which they disdained.
The results were clear on Saturday as Kushner and Prince Mohammed kept a close eye on the president and the king during a long day of ceremonial and substantive events, including a roaring military flyover, a tribal war dance by men wearing flowing white robes and waving huge silver swords, and the signing of a US$110 billion arms deal, parts of which began under Obama.
The son of a New Jersey real estate magnate, Kushner, 36, traded his lucrative media and real estate empire to join Trump’s inner circle. He has been a rare figure of discretion and focus in a White House that often seems in chaos.