The Economist: Mohammed bin Salman’s three major bets falter at once

According to The Economist, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s three major bets—on security, Vision 2030 and close ties with Trump—are all coming under strain amid Houthi attacks and the war with Iran.

In an analysis titled "Everything is going wrong for Mohammed bin Salman," the British magazine The Economist wrote that the Saudi Crown Prince's three major bets had all fallen short at the same time.

According to the magazine's assessment, the campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis had not produced the outcome Riyadh wanted in the security sphere; the Houthis have been attacking the capital Riyadh with missiles and drones for weeks. The growing threat is also making it more difficult to convince the world that the kingdom is a safe place for investment and business.

Suudi Veliaht Prens Muhammed bin Selman

In the economy, financing problems, delays to projects and the need to redirect resources to security are putting pressure on the Vision 2030 plan.

The third bet was U.S. President Donald Trump. The magazine wrote that the Saudi leadership believed it had influence over Trump and tried to win him over with promises of major investments in the United States and deals with the Trump family, but this did not prevent Trump from entering a "disastrous war."