Johnny Diamond

Here's my colleague, Jonny Diamond.

Here's my colleague, Jonny Diamond.

Twice now in the last few weeks, the Saudi capital of Riyadh has played host to the biggest movers and shakers of the war in Ukraine. Russia, America and, of course, the Ukrainians themselves. Why Riyadh? because of one man's influence, Saudi Arabia's effective ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, known near universally by his initials MBS.

Twice now in the last few weeks, the Saudi capital of Riyadh has played host to the biggest movers and shakers of the war in Ukraine. Russia, America and, of course, the Ukrainians themselves. Why Riyadh? because of one man's influence, Saudi Arabia's effective ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, known near universally by his initials MBS.

Just a few years ago, he was publicly identified as the man who ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, tortured, killed and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. As a result, MBS was called a pariah by no less than Joe Biden. But he's also the man who's driven the modernisation and diversification of the desert kingdom.

Just a few years ago, he was publicly identified as the man who ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, tortured, killed and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. As a result, MBS was called a pariah by no less than Joe Biden. But he's also the man who's driven the modernisation and diversification of the desert kingdom.

Now he has made Riyadh a place where the world comes to try and do deals. So how did Mohammed bin Salman go from pariah to peacemaker? With me today is Jonathan Rugman, journalist, author and the producer of the BBC TV series The Kingdom, about the life of the Saudi Crown Prince. It's a pleasure, Jonny. Can we start with the man?

Now he has made Riyadh a place where the world comes to try and do deals. So how did Mohammed bin Salman go from pariah to peacemaker? With me today is Jonathan Rugman, journalist, author and the producer of the BBC TV series The Kingdom, about the life of the Saudi Crown Prince. It's a pleasure, Jonny. Can we start with the man?

I mean, how much do we know of what Mohammed bin Salman is like as a person?

I mean, how much do we know of what Mohammed bin Salman is like as a person?

I just want to clear up this question of his role. He is the crown prince, and yet he is constantly described as the de facto ruler, the effective ruler. This is because, what, his father is now essentially so old that he is no longer running the show and that Mohammed bin Salman has taken on the mantle of ruler.

I just want to clear up this question of his role. He is the crown prince, and yet he is constantly described as the de facto ruler, the effective ruler. This is because, what, his father is now essentially so old that he is no longer running the show and that Mohammed bin Salman has taken on the mantle of ruler.

Let's talk about some of the things that took place. First of all, that conflict with Yemen, how he ended up putting together a coalition to go to war in Yemen against what were then known as the Houthi rebels. This is 2015. First of all, the process by which he got Saudi Arabia into that conflict was fairly curious, wasn't it?

Let's talk about some of the things that took place. First of all, that conflict with Yemen, how he ended up putting together a coalition to go to war in Yemen against what were then known as the Houthi rebels. This is 2015. First of all, the process by which he got Saudi Arabia into that conflict was fairly curious, wasn't it?

It's not just beyond Saudi's borders that he acted out of kilter with all the normal traditions of Saudi rule.

It's not just beyond Saudi's borders that he acted out of kilter with all the normal traditions of Saudi rule.

There was this astonishing event in 2017 with some of the richest of Saudi Arabia's business people and leaders, all, what, invited to the Ritz and then held there? Can you take me through it?

There was this astonishing event in 2017 with some of the richest of Saudi Arabia's business people and leaders, all, what, invited to the Ritz and then held there? Can you take me through it?

When it comes to silencing people, the one thing that so many people remember, that many listeners will remember as well, will be the silencing of one man, the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed in 2018 in what was very clearly stated by a number of different intelligence sources as being on the orders of Mohammed bin Salman. What happened there and why?

When it comes to silencing people, the one thing that so many people remember, that many listeners will remember as well, will be the silencing of one man, the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed in 2018 in what was very clearly stated by a number of different intelligence sources as being on the orders of Mohammed bin Salman. What happened there and why?