Saudi Arabia: MBS’s Asian tour

Hoping to recast his reputation on the international stage, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) began a tour of key Asian allies on 17 February, starting with a visit to Pakistan. MBS held talks with President Arif Alvi, Pakistani Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and head of intelligence Lieutenant General Asim Munir. – reflecting an upturn in relations between the Saudi and Pakistani military/intelligence establishments. MBS also met prime minister Imran Khan, with whom he witnessed a series of agreements and memoranda of understanding being signed – most of them focused on co-operation around energy.