[ad_1]
Once celebrated on the world stage, the powerful Saudi Crown Prince is struggling with coldness abroad as he fights to remove the lingering stigma of murdering a critical journalist.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman has already toured the Arab world at the summit of the Group of 20 in Argentina on Friday, where he faces world leaders strongly condemning the badbadination of Jamal Khashoggi last month in the consulate of the kingdom in Istanbul.
The country's de facto ruler dismissed international pressure, attempting to use overseas visits – followed by a flash national tour – to reinforce its tarnished reputation and strengthen its relations with the country. his allies.
"The question is who among world leaders will agree to support him publicly," said HA Hellyer, a senior member of the Atlantic Council and the Royal United Services Institute in London.
"I guess his appearances will be carefully arranged to avoid embarrbadment."
The prince faces the dark prospect of being treated as a "Bessma Momani, professor at the Canadian University of Waterloo, said Bessma Momani, a distinguished leader" by leaders at the meeting at the G-20 summit held in two days.
"Group photos are perhaps unavoidable, Momani
Former Spanish King Juan Carlos has faced strong internal criticism following the handshake he had with the prince in Abu Dhabi, its first stop in a regional tour also including close allies, Bahrain and Egypt, as well as Tunisia
A conservative Spanish daily called the picture of "shame" the image of Laughing encounter that took place last Sunday at the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi.
But the 33-year-old prince, largely kn MBS used the regional tour as a victory round after the US president Donald Trump – who praised Saudi Arabia as a "truly spectacular ally" – set his sights on him.
Trump's categorical support came despite the estimates of the Central Intelligence Agency, the Prince – who control all the prin the main levers of power in the Saudi government – was at the root of the murder.
"One should not be surprised that allies like Trump, Chinese Xi (Jinping) and Russian (Vladimir) Putin will not hesitate to let it be known that he is quite able to continue to do business with MBS, "said Momani.
Ice Reception
But Some Prince's Circle Officials Prepare for a Frosty Reception at the G20 Summit
Before the Prince's Visit, Human Rights Watch Urged Prosecutors Argentineans to consider bringing criminal charges against Prince Mohammed for alleged war crimes in a Yemeni and his possible complicity in Khashoggi's badbadination.
It was not clear if Argentine prosecutors would follow up on this request.
Trump is also coming under increasing pressure from US lawmakers, some of whom are demanding an investigation of his financial ties to determine whether the president has any interest in supporting the kingdom.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Pentagon Leader Jim Mattis were to inform US Senators Wednesday of Saudi Arabia in a climate of growing concern for the kingdom .
The Prince's supporters fear that world leaders will take advantage of his weakened international position to gain concessions from the kingdom as he faces a collapse in oil prices.
The prince is expected to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has maintained international pressure on the continent. saying that the orders for the killing of Khashoggi came from the "highest levels" of the Saudi government.
"Erdo meeting with the MBS on the sidelines of the G-20, this will indicate that an agreement has been reached, which could include reconciliation in the Gulf and concrete steps to end the war in Yemen", said Sigurd Neubauer, a Washington-based Middle East Analyst.
"However, a possible agreement between Turkey and Turkey will probably not protect MBS from US congressional investigations into the badbadination of Khashoggi."
"He is here to stay" [1945] 19659002] In a taste of acrimony expected at the G-20, the prince faced hundreds of protesters Tuesday at the # 39, a brief stopover in Tunisia, with a lot of shouting "Go badbadin!" And some red stained bucking chains – a reference to that of Khashoggi murder macabre.
Hostility contrasts sharply with the tour of a month from the prince of the United States at the beginning of the year, at the Bear from which he received a kind of rock star and was surrounded by business titans, such as Bob Iger, Disney's chef, and Apple's chef. Tim Cook.
In campaigns poisoned by public relations, the Crown Prince had been presented as a liberalizer seeking to redo his conservative government, while accumulating power unmatched by the former rulers.
by Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist criticizing the prince, seems to have torpedoed this effort.
But he has not yet threatened to dislodge the prince because of his growing grip on military and security agencies and the ruthless repression of his political rivals.
The prince's supporters say that his departure from the kingdom after a crisis is proof of his absolute control.
"The prince tries to show his national and international audience that he is leaving the palace. and convinced that he will come back to control him, "said Momani.
" He wants to show that he is here to stay for decades as the next ruler of Saudi Arabia. "
First published: Nov. 28, 2018 22:11 IST
Source link
