- Title: Prince Khaled bin Salman appointed Saudi deputy defence minister
- Date: 24th February 2019
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (FILE - APRIL 5, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, THERESA MAY AND THEN VICE PRESIDENT OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS OF THE GENERAL AUTHORITY OF SPORT, PRINCESS REEMA BINT BANDAR BIN SULTAN WALKING IN THE YARD OF SAUDI ARABIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE VARIOUS OF MAY SPEAKING TO YOUNG GIRLS PLAYING BASKETBALL, PRINCESS REEMA STANDING PRINCESS REEMA SMILING PRINCESS REEMA GIVING HI-FIVE TO CHILDREN BRITISH AND SAUDI FLAGS FLYING MAY AND PRINCESS REEMA LEAVING
- Embargoed: 10th March 2019 00:06
- Keywords: deputy defence minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan appointments
- Location: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
- City: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA003A2SYQTJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Saudi Arabia appointed the full younger brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as its deputy defence minister on Saturday (February 23) and named a princess as the kingdom's first woman ambassador to the United States.
The appointments follow Riyadh's efforts to overcome an international outcry over last year's murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents, which damaged relations with Western allies including the United States.
Prince Khalid bin Salman, a son of the king, had been ambassador to Washington since 2017. Prince Mohammed, who controls most levels of power in the country, has been defence minister since 2015 when his father ascended the throne.
The crown prince led Saudi Arabia into a war in Yemen that has killed tens of thousands of civilians and pushed the country to the brink of famine, sparking widespread criticism especially after the Khashoggi murder.
The new envoy to Washington, Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan, is the daughter of a former long-time ambassador to the United States.
She had a career in the private sector before joining the kingdom's General Sports Authority where she has championed women's participation in sports and focused on increasing women's empowerment.
(Production: Vin Shahrestani) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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