Project to Move Past Abdulaziz Family in Riyadh
Some people believe that the changes made in Saudi Arabia’s ruling structure are similar to Mafia measures due to their secrecy; changes that have direct relation with the world’s oil mafia and arms mafia due to the economic and political situation of Saudi Arabia and its expanded links with the West. Is this view a reality in the ruling structure of Saudi Arabia?
Since the establishment of the al-Saud regime, Saudi Arabia has always been accused of having such relations with the West regarding the production and sale of oil and its affiliated industries and also arms sales. It must be said that Saudi Arabia’s high production of oil for the industries of the western countries has created a special relation between this country and the international community. Since 1967, none of the Saudi leaders has taken any political or economic steps, even symbolic, against Israel, the US and the West.
Have the recent changes made in the ruling structure of Saudi Arabia been aimed at repairing the old system of this country? Is the al-Saud family attempting to regain its lost power through appointing new people to government posts?
The US Democrats have always pressured Saudi Arabia to make some reforms even superficial ones in order to satisfy the public opinion of the world because the existence of a monarchy with huge oil reserves in the Middle East with numerous developments cannot be justified. But the pressures exerted by the Democrats have never led to shocking changes. A month ago, Obama addressed the Saudis and stated that what threatened them was not Iran but internal threats such as unemployment and no political participation. But changing two ministers is not an answer to the long time challenges of Saudi Arabia by the presence of the young King Salman who has not had any experience in the administration of this country during the last thirty years. The presence of such a person in the decision-making process to buy arms and launch military strikes against neighboring countries including Yemen indicates the further dependence of Saudi Arabia on the US to buy more arms and at the same time attempt to stabilize the position of the young king on top of the al-Saud family’s pyramid.
Experts believe that the appointment of new ministers in Saudi Arabia could not be done without the approval of London and Washington. How could the presence of a young and inexperienced prince in such a position be justified by Britain and the US?
The US and Britain demand the present situation to be maintained with little change and with a slow slope. The measures of the young king create chaos in the region and have undesirable consequences for both Yemen and Saudi Arabia and other countries. It seems that more serious changes will happen in the ruling structure of Saudi Arabia and there is even the possibility that a coup could be launched by Muhammad bin Salman against his cousin Muhammad bin Nayef. Other developments have also happened, one of which is the convergence of Saudi Arabia’s national guard in the Defense Ministry.
How could these appointments compensate for the lack of legitimacy and popularity in the ruling structure of Saudi Arabia?
Saudi society is not homogenous because of the combination of the population and the number of foreigners and the distribution of resources. Therefore, there will not be widespread protests. But regional dissatisfaction and protests even in Riyadh province seems possible. There will be more possibilities of protests in other provinces which have more liberal inclinations and followers of the Maleki and Shafei sects. Furthermore, some members of the al-Saud family are not happy with these developments. Therefore, they are faced with different dimensions of protests. The presence of al-Qaeda and ISIS, which at one time Saudi Arabia intended to export, will add to these complexities.