The Global Story The Saudi prince's long road to rehabilitation
Nov 18, 2025
Frank Gardner, BBC's security correspondent and expert on Saudi politics, sheds light on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's pivotal visit to Washington. He discusses MBS's social reforms juxtaposed with political repression, and how Saudis perceive US presidents differently. Gardner recounts the impact of Jamal Khashoggi's murder on US-Saudi relations and delves into Saudi Arabia's arms needs and potential normalization with Israel. The conversation reveals the complexities of diplomacy amidst ongoing human rights concerns.
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Rehabilitation Through Strategic Alignment
- MBS's 2025 Washington visit signals a near-full diplomatic rehabilitation after the Khashoggi fallout.
- Trump and MBS share mutual interests: Saudi defence purchases and US-driven normalisation with Israel.
Reporter Dinner In Jeddah
- Asma Khalid shares her own experience dining with a female colleague in Jeddah after Biden's visit.
- She noted it felt very different from a decade earlier and posed no social problems.
Seen Social Changes In Saudi Arabia
- Frank Gardner recounts Saudi social change: entertainment opened and women allowed to drive.
- He frames these reforms as visible but set against ongoing political repression.