Two obvious features of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s statements to the press are clarity and transparency. He explains his next steps, sums up what has already been accomplished, and gives an overview of what remains to be accomplished.
The Crown Prince has never taken a step without having announced it beforehand. Take curbing corruption, for example; he announced that steps would be taken to hold those implicated accountable, be they princes or ministers, and he did it. Now, in his latest interview with The Atlantic, he is clearly saying that if there are any sycophants around him, they should leave immediately.
During the interview, the Crown Prince was asked a question that it seems the Western media has yet to understand. He was told that some say he is incapable of handling criticism… and that while he may not care what Joe Biden thinks of him, he is the Crown Prince of an absolute monarchy and has a lot of power... so can he handle criticism. The Crown Prince replied: “Thank you very much for this question. If I couldn’t, I would not be sitting with you today listening to that question.”
He added that Saudi media should criticize the government’s performance and plans, whatever they may be, stressing that this is positive. If only Saudi officials took the Crown Prince’s approach to explaining themselves, appreciating the value of constructive criticism, not the chaotic incitement the Crown Prince discussed. As usual, he spoke transparently about domestic and international issues. That included a discussion of Saudi Arabia’s “historical story,” especially after Saudi Founding Day was announced. They also discussed the ruling family, the economy, and his vision for culture.
The virtue of this nearly 7,900 word conversation, which is too long and rich to discuss fully here, is that it shows that Saudi Arabia is proceeding with its reforms in line with Vision 2030 without hesitation or reluctance. He affirmed that the fight against extremism goes on, pointing to Saudi Arabia’s firm position on the Muslim Brotherhood’s extremism, ongoing judicial reforms, and most importantly, the fact that Saudi Arabia is doing all this for Saudis, not the West.
When the journalist asked him if he is exasperated by the rest of the world’s failure to acknowledge how well Saudi Arabia has done, especially regarding women’s rights, he replies that they have not been taking these reforms to be given credit for it; that does not concern them, adding that they have taken these steps for the Saudi people. He also said that while informed assessments are appreciated, and if not, that is your prerogative.
The transparency in the interview also applied to foreign policy, with the Crown Prince speaking clearly on Iran, the nuclear deal, and the peace process, affirming his commitment to the Palestinian cause in line with Islamic principles. Indeed, he launched what is akin to an “initiative” for those concerned.
To conclude, it was a leader’s dialogue, and I recommend reading to avoid being surprised.
