As Iran weakens, questions grow over Mohammed bin Salman’s regional ambitions

Experts divided on whether Saudi Arabia's regional moves represent pragmatic adaptation or dangerous drift

Efrat Lachter / Fox News

 

As Iran weakens, a power vacuum is emerging across the Javed Ali, former senior official at the National Security Council and professor at the University of Michigan, told Fox News Digital that "Since Iran’s 1979 revolution, both Saudi Arabia and Iran have vied for influence across the broader Muslim world. Mohammed bin Salman’s consolidation of power in the kingdom has also introduced a markedly different vision from that of his predecessors."

Riyadh’s recent moves, from Yemen to Turkey, are fueling debate over whether Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s expanding regional role still aligns with U.S. interests. As part of that recalibration, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 9 that Turkey is seeking entry into the Saudi–Pakistan mutual defense pact signed four months earlier, according to people familiar with the talks. 

Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said Saudi Arabia’s current trajectory must be viewed through years of accumulated frustration with U.S. policy.

"To be fair to MBS, previous U.S. administrations did not uphold their end of the bargain either," Rubin told Fox News Digital, pointing to..." Read more and see video here.