Saudi Arabia's New King
The death of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah at the age of 90 came as little surprise as the king had been in poor health for a number of years and his health had deteriorated sharply in recent months. Nevertheless, the fact that such an influential figure has died at such a pivotal time in the Middle East’s history has shaken the region and added another degree of uncertainty to Saudi Arabia and to the wider region. As a result, Saudi Arabia’s new leader, King Salman, will face a number of major political and economic challenges that threaten the future of his country and the region.
The fact that Salman was named as the new king so quickly in the wake of the death of his half-brother King Abdullah highlights just how sensitive the succession process is in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, this succession issue arose at a time when Saudi Arabia is preparing for a new generation of leaders as the sons of the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, Abdel Aziz bin Saud, are dwindling in number. In fact, King Salman’s first act as king was to name the youngest of his brothers, Muquin, as the country’s heir apparent. Moreover, the new deputy crown prince is Mohammed bin Nayef (King Salman’s nephew), the first of the next generation of Saudi leaders to be put in a position to ascend to the Saudi throne. These facts are important, as the new 79-year-old king is believed to be in poor health and to be suffering from dementia.
When he officially ascended to the throne in 2005, King Abdullah had been expected to be a major reformer who would enact major changes to Saudi society and to push for improved relations with many of the country’s neighbors and rivals. However, a number of factors conspired to prevent the former king from enacting serious reforms, including the descent of many of the country’s neighbors into failed state status and the strong opposition to social reform within the monarchy. Now, hopes for reform within Saudi Arabia are far more measured and it is up to the new king to determine the direction Saudi Arabia will take in the coming years.
The single greatest challenge facing King Salman is the rising threat to security and stability in Saudi Arabia. Around its borders, Saudi Arabia is facing a myriad of major security threats, including the rise of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, the ongoing Syrian Civil War, Iran’s regional ambitions and the collapse of stability in Yemen. Moreover, thousands of young Saudis have joined groups such as the Islamic State or al-Qaeda and are a threat to return to Saudi Arabia to carry out attacks on government targets. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is increasingly concerned about its relationship with the United States, and the US’ overtures to Iran and its support for Israel. If the security situation around Saudi Arabia’s borders continues to deteriorate, King Salman’s reign will be a turbulent one.