By: Syed Shaheen Chishti
Saudi Arabia is a unique country both for Muslims and non-Muslims; most of its post independent governance has been managed by the House of Saud royal family. Saud Royal family, especially MBS, holds an important position in the hearts of 1.8 billion Muslims across the world as the custodian of the two holy places in Makah and Medina.
It is the first time since September 1932 that the government is passing between generations and the King in waiting is a young H.E. Mohammed bin Salman. It is important time for the world to reengage themselves with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under Mohammed Bin Salman.
There are many benefits for the world as the Crown Prince Mohammed is very good at governance, modern thinker, and free market representative and progressive.
Western world has missed the initial dialogue opportunity on something that was bogus claim made against Mohammed Bin Salman. The whole made up story against Mohammed Bin Salman was laughable in the sense that here was much fabricated information to malign a new person. To suggest that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by inviting him into a Saudi consulate in Turkey is full of inaccuracies.
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Mohammed Bin Salman would never be involved in such open action knowing full well the implications of this in ever so open world. This was an attempt by the west to ensure that the new generation of House of Saud toe the same line as the previous generations. This backfired very badly as we are on the verge of driving our most important ally in Middle East after Israel away.
We must invite Mohammed Bin Salman an open market advocate who is a fan of Google, amazon, Apple and Facebook back into the fold by:
1. Respecting and crediting him for carrying out difficult yet important domestic issues which to the outside world may look basic but he has driven them. The women in Saudi Arabia under Mohammed Bin Salman have and will have more freedom. We must acknowledge that despite religious interference Mohammed Bin Salman has driven these and at time staking his own reputation and life on the line;
2. He is young and modern this brings a new fresh thinking into the KSA system. An engagement with his would ensure that we are guiding an important ally on security and business. His views of integrating Israel into Middle East are worthy of serious consideration. This is a big move and must be recognised for the bravery of Mohammed Bin Salman and also how far the Muslim world has moved now. Both KSA and Israel will benefit from this alliance and could open doors for full recognition of Israel in the wider Muslim world. It is pivotal that we all work to change the hateful relationship that some have with Israel to that of joint security and commerce as envisaged by Mohammed Bin Salman;
3. Dollar dominance is important to the wider question and is in the interest of all. Oil linked to dollar is beneficial to us and will remain so at a critical time when inflation is rampant and we are looking for new avenues of capital;
4. Importantly, it is the free market thinking that Mohammed Ban Salman that we must appreciate he is very keen on opening up the Saudi and with it wider Middle Eastern economy. By working closely with Mohammed Bin Salman we will gain access to what I refer as the fastest economically growing area of the world in the next 10 years. We need to engage with him on these bases and take advantage of the position where decision making is fast and is in our interest;
Crown Prince and PM of Saudi Arabia Mohammed Bin Salam is a once in a generation person and his vision of 2030 must be fully supported by the world. Muslim world after a long time has new leadership and we must welcome this. We must fully support him in his work as I increasingly believe that he is capable of changing the world landscape. His leadership in the Middle East will lead to peace and prosperity.
Just like other Saudis he is proud of his reputation and fiercely brave to introduce new ideas and it is imperative that we increase our engagement with him immediately as we need this friendship more than ever. Any attempt to malign him will not only upset the Kingdom but the whole Muslim world when we are badly trying to reengage with them.
We must hold economy summit right here in London, UK and invite Mohammed Bin Salman to showcase his vision and what is offer as “Best of Britain”. A joint Saudi-UK-India economy summit and post Brexit independent economy deal with MBS is the need of the hour and also an opportunity to increase cultural and business ties with an important ally lead by a visionary in Mohammed Bin Salman.