The naming of Mohammad bin Salman, the 31-year-old son of Saudi King Salman bin Abdel-Aziz, as heir apparent means that the country is on the brink of being ruled by its youngest-ever monarch, potentially for decades to come. The 81-year-old King Salman promoted Mohammad bin Salman, who had been deputy crown prince, to crown prince, dismissing his nephew Prince Mohammad bin Nayef from the post and from his position as minister of the interior. The new crown prince had already been exercising considerable power, not only as defence minister, but as the top economic leader and chairman of state-owned Saudi Aramco's supreme council. And as head of the royal court he had input into decisions and decrees issued by his father.
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