Another week, another apparent ‘seismic change’ in the Middle East.

Even by the standards of a region that does not like to do anything by halves, the promotion by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman to Crown Prince of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is highly significant and important.

As Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister and architect of its economy reform programme, the thirty something changemaker was already the most important figure in the region and it was widely antici that he would oust Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef in the Saudi succession.

But it has happened sooner than anyone expected, and the manner of the appointment has been striking.

Mohammed bin Salman’s appointment was accompanied by a string of government appointments that, at a strike, have substantially increased the young prince’s influence.

The appointments of so many relatively young people to senior government posts represent the long-anticipated arrival of the next generation of leaders of the kingdom, with Mohammed bin Salman as their figurehead.

Additionally, the public show of allegiance by Mohammed bin Nayef to the new Crown Prince removes symbolic opposition from his supporters.

Additionally, after a year of austerity that has started to see criticism of the reforms, bonuses and pay rises have been made to public worker has no doubt remove some of the sting.

There is no question that MBS still faces many opponent and challenges, and that there are many divisions in the house of said/government of Saudi,.

But mbs is now in the driving seat and he has many challenges to fix, many of his own making.

His priorities are

Iran

Yemen

Accelerate reforms