Wishy-Washy Will Welcome MBS.

Rishi Sunak will welcome King Mohammed Bin Sultan. The two apparently spoke on the telephone and discussed various issues. Including trade and investment and the UK's long-standing friendship with KSA. Of course, controversially, the UK has been training Saudi forces and shipping weapons across to the country. To help Saudi fight Houthi rebels in the land of Yemen. The Houthis are backed by Iran. The US is also backing Saudi in its war with the Houthis. However, thanks to the Chinese, a rapprochement has taken place between the two sides. So for now at least KSA and IRI are BFFs.

Prince Mohammed Bin Sultan remains a controversial figure. Responsible or so it is alleged for the death of Jamal Khashoggi. Assassinated in the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul, Turkey. Bin Sultan claimed it was rogue Saudi agents who killed the writer for the Washington Post. Though no one, of course, believed, the crown prince. Khashoggi was a Saudi dissident critical of the Saudi regime. Bin Sultan was ostracised by the world community after this dreadful act. Trump and Mo got on like a house on fire. Relations between Biden and Bin Sultan have been strained to say the least. The US remains a friend of KSA but not like it was when Trump was in power. No doubt, if Trump, is in power again (probably from a prison cell) relations between the US and KSA will blossom again. If Rick De Santis, Governor of Florida, takes up the reins of Trumpism instead, he will, no doubt be close with MBS too.

Rishi Sunak has been accused of rolling out the 'red carpet' for the Saudi Prince. MBS (Mohammed Bin Sultan) will succeed his father in time. He will be crowned King of KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). He will rule over a royal and religious dictatorship. Sharia law is imposed on the people and they have very little say in how their country is run. Many Saudi women have fled their country preferring a life in the West. Although, women are allowed to drive cars now. Saudi has started to diversify its energy from oil and gas to solar. It knows the dependency on oil and gas will not last forever as the West tries alternative power sources. Saudi is also trying to attract non-Muslim tourists. Saudi needs the protection of the US and its weapons to keep the country stable. So MBS has softened some of the harsh laws of the country to keep the West as a friend. Also, to get Westerners coming in as tourists. The prince though, will have to tread carefully, as the clergy will not be too happy to have infidels walking around Mecca and such places.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have expressed reservations about allowing the prince to come here. But never-the-less Rishi will be hob-knobbing with MBS, come hell or high water. Trade and investments will be discussed no doubt. As well as the ongoing long relationship with the Saudi regime. Of course, the war will be discussed in Yemen. Human rights will be discussed but it will not be top of the agenda. Will Rishi be pliable in the hands of MBS as he seems to be in the presence of other leaders like Emmanual Macron? Does Sunak have the backbone to stand up to other world leaders and put his point across?

Downing Street has stated there is nothing down in the diary yet for when the prince will come. Strange, though, how we choose our dictators. Putin is public enemy No 1 and understandably so. Yet, we engage with people like Bin Sultan bombing the hell out of Yemen. Go figure!

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