The UK-based newspaper, The Times, had published an article written by Michael Burleigh arguing that the Saudi controversial Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has only few days left in power.
Burleigh started his article saying: “Hopes that the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would be a reformer who could heal the region have come to nothing.”
In the article, the writer went to highlight how western media had widely-reported the prince’s world tour last March drawing a picture of him as the Saudi strongman who is working for political and economic reforms. However, several doubts have been raised as a result of recent decisions taken by his father, King Salman.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince’s war on Yemen and the huge amount of money it is draining, in addition to the cold war he launched against Qatar, show clear signs of failure.
The article created massive reactions in the Arab world. Many Saudis rushed into defending their 32-year-old Crown Prince.
Translation: “It is neither the British Times, the Washington Post or the New York Times who have anything with us as long as the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, God bless him, is achieving the aspirations of the Saudis and his ambitions.”.
Translation: “Mohammed bin Salman is the strong prince and reformer who used to sleep in a yacht in Jeddah during summer with tight security. This is what British Times said, confirming that his days are numbered after he spent millions to glorify his image in the west.”
Meanwhile, Qataris seemed happy with the news…
Translation: “A writer in the Times wrote: The Crown Prince attempts to isolate Qatar failed and hopes that he is a reformer resulted in nothing. Which means your days are numbered.”
In fact, Mohammed bin Salman’s policies on foreign and local levels have been center of controversy in the Middle East and in the international media.
The latest was a Newsweek cover that featured Bin Salman on the cover, with a headline that reads: “Make Arabia Great Again”. The magazine depicted the young Crown Prince’s policy as seen by the world, then compared it to the actual policies he is following inside Saudi Arabia.
