Saudi Crown Prince employs retired US generals, admirals in high-paying gigs: report
The prince has used his considerable diplomatic and economic clout to promote his business ventures
The Saudi kingdom’s crown prince, Mohammad bin Salman, is using his vast diplomatic and economic clout to keep his business dealings at an arm’s length, according to a report in The Financial Times.
The report, which was based on interviews with senior US and British officials, added that the prince is “one of the world’s most sought-after and wealthy businessmen”.
Mohammad bin Salman has been a friend of both Donald Trump and Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, the country’s most famous businesswomen and daughter of the US president.
The prince has used his considerable diplomatic and economic clout to promote his business ventures, including a mega-project that would see several skyscraper towers constructed in Saudi Arabia.
His business relations with the kingdom are said to be key in the kingdom’s decision to buy a $750m US frigate and a drone for the national air force.
The US Department of Defence, which is building the drone, will also have a contract for a new radar system.
In January, Salman paid for a $500,000 trip to the US on President Trump’s orders, The News said at the time.
The paper also reported that some of the prince’s business deals have been in the hands of retired former marines and soldiers, who have been allowed to work for him.
The FT said former US Army Major General Scott Miller was hired by the prince in 2014 and later became senior vice-president of Aramco, a state-owned oil giant, and chief security adviser to the crown prince.
The FT said Miller was allowed into the country by the crown prince at the invitation of the US. “General Miller’s access to Saudi Arabia is not unusual,” the report said. “The US has had a long relationship with Saudi Arabia and continues to provide military aid to help it counter its regional rivals.”
It quoted an unnamed US defence official saying: “They can’t get American civilians