Blood and Oil: Mohammed bin Salman’s Unyielding Pursuit of Global Dominance
- The book explores how Mohammed bin Salman strategically removed his cousin, Mohammed bin Nayef, to become Crown Prince in 2017, consolidating power through ruthless political maneuvers.
- MBS’s ambitious Vision 2030 aims to reduce Saudi Arabia’s dependence on oil by diversifying the economy, creating new industries, and attracting foreign investments. However, the book highlights the contradictions between his reformist vision and authoritarian rule.
- The review discusses MBS’s crackdown on dissent, including the 2017 Ritz-Carlton anti-corruption purge, the suppression of women’s rights activists, and the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
- The book examines Saudi Arabia’s military intervention in Yemen, its tensions with Iran, and its influence over Lebanon, portraying MBS as a leader determined to establish Saudi dominance in the region, often through controversial and aggressive tactics.
Seize opportunities, for they pass like clouds- Ali ibn Abi Talib(RA)
“Blood and Oil: Mohammed bin Salman’s Ruthless Quest for Global Power” by Bradley Hope and Justin Scheck offers a comprehensive analysis of Mohammed bin Salman’s ascent within the Saudi royal family, highlighting his ambitious strategies to transform the kingdom and the merciless methods he utilized to secure authority. The writers investigated MBS’s ascent by examining the strategic maneuvers that facilitated his removal of his cousin Mohammed bin Nayef and solidified his status as Crown Prince in June 2017. This transfer signified a crucial change in Saudi leadership, as MBS, noted for his youthful vigor and reformist discourse, established himself as a modernizer in sharp contrast to the older, more traditional cohort of monarchs.
The ambitious mission 2030 program, which was introduced in April 2016, is at the core of MBS’s mission. This strategy framework seeks to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy, diminishing its substantial dependence on oil. The writers emphasize MBS’s resolve, citing his statement: “We are not going to be a country that relies solely on oil.” This plan entails the creation of a substantial investment fund anticipated to attain $2 trillion, aimed at generating new sectors and employment possibilities for the kingdom’s youthful demographic, almost 60% of whom are under thirty years of age. Nevertheless, the authors disclose that beneath these progressive measures exists a merciless governing strategy. The prominent anti-corruption operation at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in November 2017 exemplifies this issue. In this operation, more than 300 princes and businessmen were apprehended, with many compelled to remit significant settlements for their liberation. MBS characterized this operation as an essential campaign against corruption, while simultaneously eliminating possible adversaries and consolidating his authority. The writers astutely observe, “In a realm where loyalty serves as currency, MBS was prepared to pay with blood.”
The book further analyzes MBS’s assertive military operation in Yemen, initiated in March 2015, intended to reinstate the internationally recognized government against Houthi rebels backed by Iran. This battle has resulted in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, exemplifying the severe repercussions of MBS’s aggressive actions. The narrative culminates in the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018, an event that astonished the global community and highlighted the extremes to which MBS would resort to suppress dissent.
Khashoggi’s assassination at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul elicited extensive denunciation of MBS’s regime, which had sought to portray itself as a reformer entity. The writers underscore the sorrow of this incident, asserting, “Khashoggi’s demise was a stark reminder of the cost of dissent in a kingdom that mandates unwavering loyalty.”
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The authors also shed light on the regime’s abuses of human rights, including the crackdown on activists, especially those who support women’s rights, such as Loujain al-Hathloul, who has been a political prisoner since 2018. She, along with several activists, was arrested in the UAE and deported to Saudi Arabia, where they were accused with “attempting to destabilize the kingdom.” Notwithstanding MBS’s public persona as a modernizer, the book exposes a significant disparity between his rhetoric and the actuality of his authoritarian rule. This duality is apparent in his foreign policy choices, such as his adversarial approach to Iran and the management of Lebanon’s political situation, illustrating his ambition to position Saudi Arabia as a preeminent regional force.
The views and opinions expressed in this article/paper are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Spine Times.
Laiba Imran
The writer is pursuing a BS (Hons) in International Relations with a keen interest in geopolitics and global security.
