Shunned by Europe, Saudi Arabia's crown prince meets US Central Command chief

Prince Mohammed was joined in his meeting met with US Central Command Kenneth McKenzie Jr by his brother and former US ambassador deputy Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman.

"Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received US Central Command Kenneth McKenzie Jr today to review aspects of military cooperation & joint efforts on combatting terrorism, extremism," the Saudi embassy in the US tweeted.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman also met the US Central Command chief for talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been described as Saudi Arabia's effective ruler by analysts, but his links to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi have seen him shunned by the West.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met the crown prince in January, but the ruler has not made any visits to Western countries since the murder of the Saudi journalist in October.

Accusations by western media and US intelligence that Prince Mohammed was linked to the murder has seen him turn to Asian countries including India, China and Pakistan.

Prince Mohammed reportedly told American academic Professor Bernard Haykel that he was looking east after being effectively boycotted by European powers over the murder of the Saudi journalist at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul last year.

Analysts believe that despite the push towards Asian economic powerhouses for public support, Prince Mohammed will inevitably have to rely on US backing for legitimacy.

"I think Mohammed bin Salman has been in the shadows of the west and he knows he can't operate without western support so he tried to maneuver lately by going east but I don't think he will find his answer there," said Dr Ali Bakeer, senior researcher and coordinator of Gulf Studies programme at ORSAM.

"This is just a temporary tactic because the Saudi regime can't surivive without western support and from the US in particular. China and Russia might be interested in some economic stakes in Riyadh but when it comes to security guarantees, these countries can't offer the Saudi regime what the US does."

Prince Mohammed has also faced criticism for Saudi Arabia's role in Yemen, which has killed thousands of children according to recent reports.

Germany has effectively banned arms exports to Saudi Arabia over the war, while the US Congress in putting pressure on President Donald Trump's administration over its support for Saudi Arabia and the high civilian death toll in Yemen.

"When it comes to the latest meeting with the US Central Command it is most probably related to Saudi military incompetance, especially in Yemen. The latest reports are focusing on how western weapons - particularly from the US, France and UK - are contributing to the mass killing of civilians in Yemen," said Bakeer.

"This is becoming an issue in Washington with Congress v Trump policy towards the crown prince who was called a 'gangster' last month by Republican senators."