Jonathan Beale

And the Saudis were relieved that he wasn't Barack Obama, that he wasn't lecturing them on human rights, and they felt that this was a president that they could do business with.

rather than doing Washington's bidding, which was certainly, I think, how MBS saw that his predecessors had done things.

rather than doing Washington's bidding, which was certainly, I think, how MBS saw that his predecessors had done things.

Yes, well, Trump put Jared Kushner in charge of attempts to broker a Middle East peace process in the Trump first term.

Yes, well, Trump put Jared Kushner in charge of attempts to broker a Middle East peace process in the Trump first term.

And Jared Kushner was the prince slaying of one dynastic family going to meet the prince of another. And they would stay up late at night playing video games. They would WhatsApp each other. And I think the strength of that relationship actually emboldened MBS to do some of the rather outlandish things that he's done.

And Jared Kushner was the prince slaying of one dynastic family going to meet the prince of another. And they would stay up late at night playing video games. They would WhatsApp each other. And I think the strength of that relationship actually emboldened MBS to do some of the rather outlandish things that he's done.

So, for example, when he had hundreds of princes locked up in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Trump tweeted in favor of this. The stronger the relationship with Kushner became, I think the more MBS felt emboldened to do the things that he did. I think there was a degree of permissiveness there and impulsivity in the young Saudi crown prince. What happens at the end of the first Trump presidency?

So, for example, when he had hundreds of princes locked up in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Trump tweeted in favor of this. The stronger the relationship with Kushner became, I think the more MBS felt emboldened to do the things that he did. I think there was a degree of permissiveness there and impulsivity in the young Saudi crown prince. What happens at the end of the first Trump presidency?

Well, Jared Kushner goes into business in Florida. He sets up an investment fund. And the biggest investors are, surprise, surprise, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund that gives Jared Kushner $2 billion. You know, that relationship endures. And in fact, only in February last month, Donald Trump was down in Florida talking to the Saudis.

Well, Jared Kushner goes into business in Florida. He sets up an investment fund. And the biggest investors are, surprise, surprise, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund that gives Jared Kushner $2 billion. You know, that relationship endures. And in fact, only in February last month, Donald Trump was down in Florida talking to the Saudis.

The head of the Sovereign Wealth Fund was over there, a man called Yasser al-Rumayyan. He's played golf with Mr. Trump. Donald Trump's golf courses make money from the Saudi golf championship that is the rival to the PGA. So the relationship exists on many different levels.

The head of the Sovereign Wealth Fund was over there, a man called Yasser al-Rumayyan. He's played golf with Mr. Trump. Donald Trump's golf courses make money from the Saudi golf championship that is the rival to the PGA. So the relationship exists on many different levels.

Yeah, I think there's a sort of keeping up with the Joneses going on in the Gulf, where Saudi Arabia, a massive country, the most powerful and richest country in the Gulf, looks at little Qatar next door, looks at the United Arab Emirates, who've been projecting soft power for years, buying football clubs or owning well-known buildings in Western capitals.

Yeah, I think there's a sort of keeping up with the Joneses going on in the Gulf, where Saudi Arabia, a massive country, the most powerful and richest country in the Gulf, looks at little Qatar next door, looks at the United Arab Emirates, who've been projecting soft power for years, buying football clubs or owning well-known buildings in Western capitals.

And MBS has begun to put the sovereign wealth fund, of which he's in charge, and which has $925 billion under management. to project Saudi Arabia's own power, whether it's buying Newcastle United, having stakes in companies like Uber in the United States. I don't think it's sports washing. I think that's the wrong phrase to use because that's quite a Western-centric way of looking at things.

And MBS has begun to put the sovereign wealth fund, of which he's in charge, and which has $925 billion under management. to project Saudi Arabia's own power, whether it's buying Newcastle United, having stakes in companies like Uber in the United States. I don't think it's sports washing. I think that's the wrong phrase to use because that's quite a Western-centric way of looking at things.

They're sort of assuming that MBS wants the approval of the West, etc. It's much more like, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. You need to recognise my power.

They're sort of assuming that MBS wants the approval of the West, etc. It's much more like, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. You need to recognise my power.

Yeah, it really is radically different. And I think that the latest thing that's really taking off is foreign tourism. I think in terms of the reforms, it's quite hard to think of many recently. They're becoming a bit historic, which suggests that things are slowing down a bit in terms of change in Saudi Arabia. But there's no doubt about it.