FETHI BELAID
- Saudi Arabia's ruler Mohammed bin Salman is seeking to expand his influence.
- Joe Biden threatened to make him a global "pariah" after the assassination of a dissident.
- But he's exploited global turmoil and his control over oil markets to expand his power.
In November, thousands of Saudis gathered in the streets of Riyadh to celebrate an audacious triumph by their ruler, Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudi Arabia, beating off Italy and South Korea, had just been named host of the 2030 World Expo, a global exhibition that will attract billions in investment and thousands of visitors to the desert kingdom.