It was often said that change in Saudi Arabia came at a glacial pace. At best, its rulers moved two steps forward and one step back. These days, you’re more likely to hear that the world’s largest oil exporter is moving far too fast. It has become an unpredictable, aggressive kingdom, where long-held taboos are broken every day and new rules are introduced overnight.
Yet if the paralysis of the past was destructive, the hyperactivity of the present is troubling too. As western leaders roll out the red carpet for Mohammed bin Salman — the 32-year-old crown prince is visiting Britain this week — allies mindful of the stability of Saudi Arabia would do well to counsel caution.
MbS, as the crown prince is known, is the new millennial strongman of the Middle East. A de facto ruler now, he will soon be king with absolute powers. In an increasingly turbulent region, where tensions spill easily into war, the country cannot afford a leader learning on the job. His more hardline instincts have to be contained from the outset.