Setting Lofty Goals

Posted: June 1st, 2016

By Gary Grappo

Gary Grappo is a former U.S. ambassador who held senior positions including Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad; U.S. Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman; and Charge d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As a career member of the Senior Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State, he served as Envoy and Head of Mission of the Office of the Quartet Representative, the Honorable Mr. Tony Blair, in Jerusalem. He’s currently a Distinguished Fellow at the Center for Middle East Studies at the Korbel School for International Studies, University of Denver.

Ripple effects have been felt across the Kingdom as the Saudi royal family transitions to a new generation of leaders. According to former U.S. Ambassador to Oman, Gary Grappo, the new economic plan introduced by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, while ambitious, “will help the country diversify greater and more quickly than it has already been doing.” Further, Grappo explains that the increasing number of social media users among the younger generation of Saudis and the political-religious dynamic within the Kingdom, are both interesting developments to watch.

The Cipher Brief: After ascending to the throne in January 2015, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman reshuffled the ruling family, appointing Muhammad Bin Nayef as Crown Prince and his son, Mohammad bin Salman, as Deputy Crown Prince. How did these moves impact dynamics within the royal family? Has there been a ripple affect in the royal family as a result of these appointments?

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