Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly one of the most successful individuals born in the 1980s worldwide.
Today, he is not just the son of the king but wields actual power in this oil-rich nation.
Although he has not formally ascended to the throne, he already holds the king's authority over life and death.
However, behind Mohammed bin Salman's charismatic facade, controversies surrounding him have never ceased.
He has detained his own mother, arrested numerous royal family members for power consolidation, and has been accused of involvement in the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which strained relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia.
From any angle, Mohammed bin Salman is a figure shrouded in controversy.
Before 2017, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince was Mohammed bin Salman's cousin, Mohammed bin Nayef, a pro-Western figure and son of King Abdullah.
However, unexpectedly, King Salman dismissed Mohammed bin Nayef in 2017 and appointed his own son, Mohammed bin Salman, as his successor.
At that moment, Mohammed bin Salman kissed his father's hand and said, "I will always need your guidance."
King Salman replied, "But I need to rest now."
This conversation marked the transition of Saudi Arabia's highest power, making Mohammed bin Salman the "uncrowned king."
Yet, during the remaining years of King Salman's reign, this was also an opportunity for Mohammed bin Salman to purge dissenters.
Thus began the unprecedented "royal purge" in history.
In 2017, King Salman announced the establishment of the "Supreme Anti-Corruption Committee," with Mohammed bin Salman as its commander.
Dozens of princes and aristocrats connected to the royal family were arrested, and hundreds of officials were imprisoned as a result.
Despite Mohammed bin Salman's firmness domestically and assertiveness internationally, his governance methods have not garnered universal support.
He has taken extreme measures to eliminate dissent, including detaining his mother, Princess Fahda, which has sparked internal discontent and opposition within the family.
On the international stage, Mohammed bin Salman's policies have also sparked controversy.
He has taken a hardline stance against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, viewing them as "Iran's proxies," leading the Saudi-led coalition's intervention in Yemen.
Despite the dire situation on the Yemeni battlefield, Mohammed bin Salman remains steadfast.
He is even willing to pay to hire mercenaries from South Asia, having Pakistani and Indian soldiers fight side by side in the same trenches to prevent the Houthi rebels from forming a legitimate government in Yemen.
When dealing with Syria and Bashar al-Assad, Mohammed bin Salman has never compromised, making Saudi Arabia one of Syria's largest enemies apart from Turkey.
Even in the face of the United States, Mohammed bin Salman has shown a tough stance.
During the Khashoggi incident, he met with President Biden wearing slippers, demonstrating his ambition and determination for Saudi Arabia.
He seeks to transform Saudi Arabia from a traditional family territory into a truly modern country.
However, behind this vision lie numerous difficulties and challenges.
Firstly, Saudi Arabia must achieve openness and shed the cloak of religious conservatism.
Religion has long been a tool for the Saudi royal family to unite the nation, and Saudi Arabia itself has close ties to Wahhabi ideology, which has led to accusations of supporting terrorism.
However, since assuming power, Mohammed bin Salman has vigorously cracked down on domestic terrorism and extremist religious forces, and has limited the power of traditional religious police.
Since 2016, more than half of those executed in Saudi Arabia have been extremist religious figures, demonstrating Mohammed bin Salman's clear boundary with religious extremism.
In international diplomacy, Mohammed bin Salman has also shown a tough stance, with his foreign policy even dubbed "Salmanism."
Despite Saudi Arabia's claim to support Palestine, Mohammed bin Salman has labeled Hezbollah and Hamas as "terrorist organizations" due to their close ties with Iran.
Furthermore, he has exerted pressure on Qatar, which maintains a neutral stance on Iran, leading to strained relations with Saudi Arabia and even sanctions.
Mohammed bin Salman is undoubtedly a leader with a strongman temperament.
Although his policies and methods have brought internal and external controversies, they have also propelled Saudi Arabia into a new era.
However, his governance style and policies have also laid numerous pitfalls.
As for how Mohammed bin Salman will be judged by future generations remains uncertain.
He is not just a witness to history but also a creator of history.
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