Who is Mohammed bin Salman?

Mohammed bin Salman – billionaire, visionary, autocrat. Saudi Arabia’s crown prince is caught between the will to reform and merciless protection of his own power. In his quest for modernization, Mohammed bin Salman is implementing ambitious plans. But controversies and human rights violations continue to overshadow his attempts at reform. Is he ultimately just an autocrat consolidating his power with an iron hand? Since the summer of 2023, Mohammed bin Salman has been known to every football fan. The reason: The 37-year-old crown prince is buying up all of Europe’s top leagues. Benzema, Neymar, Brozovic – they have all been playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi football league since then. How does he pay for it? With money, lots of money. The assets of the Saudi oil empire are said to amount to almost one trillion euros. In principle, Mohammed bin Salman is so rich that he can afford pretty much anything – and anyone. And not only that. The probably most influential Millennial in the world is also involved on the international stage. When he was appointed defense minister out of nowhere in January 2015, there was still no sign of this. And the fact that he would be Prime Minister of the country after seven years still seems unthinkable at this point. In fact, the current de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia was only known to political insiders at the time. But Mohammed bin Salman quickly makes it clear that he will implement his plans with a hard hand if necessary. Less than two months after taking office as defense minister, he sent troops to Yemen in 2015 to secure Saudi influence in the neighboring country. According to the UN, the result: one of the largest humanitarian disasters of the 21st century. In 2018, he also allegedly had the journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi murdered in the Saudi Consulate General in Istanbul. Political experts are certain: people who stand in the way of his goals will be systematically eliminated. At the same time, he is implementing countless reforms in Saudi Arabia and wants to lead his country into the new millennium. The result: While conservative Islamic Wahhabism is losing influence, women are finally allowed to drive, and cinemas and concert halls are opening their doors. However – according to critics – not out of charity. But above all to prepare Saudi Arabia economically for the future. The planned mega-desert city “Neom”, one of the most expensive construction projects in the world, is also considered controversial. But who is probably the most influential millennial today? Is he a visionary or a megalomaniac, a reformer or an autocrat? Who is Mohammed bin Salman?

information

HD
16:9

Continue reading now or switch to mobile view

Mobile view Read more