The year 2016 has inherited a host of issues from its predecessor. The previous year proved to be a tumultuous year for the entire world. Terrorism, economic problems, political turmoil and wars remained in the headlines during much of the year 2015. Being an integral part of the international community, Saudi Arabia is naturally not immune to the effects of the events unfolding at the regional and global level.
Despite all the negativity across the region, thanks to the wise leadership of Saudi Arabia the country continues to remain an island of peace and tranquility amid all the chaos in its neighborhood.
Under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Saudi Arabia has emerged as the true leader of the Arab and Muslim world. The Kingdom is doing its best to ward off Iranian meddling in the Arab world. It goes without saying that Iranian interference is harmful to the Arab world, as Tehran is leaving no stone unturned to divide the region along sectarian lines. Saudi Arabia has, under King Salman, for the first time assumed a proactive position at the regional and global level. Such a strong stance is a must to protect the integrity of the Arab world.
There is no better time than now to have a strong king and a strong vision of the role that the Kingdom must play in the region. King Salman provides that much-needed strength.
Following his ascension to the throne a year ago, there were many questions as to where he would lead the country. What we have learned is that King Salman is quick to act. He is not only continuing the progressive policies of his wise predecessors, but he also has taken an aggressive attitude to root out corruption.
A case in point is the recent incident involving a wealthy resident who had closed a service road on Sari Street in Jeddah to prevent motorists from driving in front of his villa. When the government caught wind of the closure — thanks to a social media campaign — it ordered the service road reopened and fined the resident millions of Saudi riyals.
King Salman has also enhanced Saudi Arabia's influence in the Muslim world. The Kingdom has always been the land of Islam and under the king's leadership has seen vast improvements in services in Makkah and Madinah. Further, King Salman continues Saudi Arabia's desire to be a peaceful country that pursues diplomatic solutions to global problems. Over the years some of the Kingdom's enemies have viewed our peaceful nature as weakness. King Salman has proven that if our sovereignty is threatened and there is willful refusal to respond to diplomacy then we can and will use the sword. The Kingdom has the power of a peacemaker but it balances that peacemaking with military power to protect its soil and the soil of its neighbors.
Since the day, King Salman became the ruler he has been taking special measures to ensure empowerment of the youth. The appointment of Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the deputy crown prince is a testimony to the fact that the king wants the younger generation to play a key role in the overall development of the country.
In addition to that, the king is tackling our economic challenges by implementing policies to add revenue to the national budget. Taxes and raising gasoline and energy prices may hurt our pocketbook in the short term, but will only strengthen our economy in the long term and help wean us from oil revenue.
The Muslim world is in crisis. The region is in crisis. The West is paralyzed in how to stamp out Daesh and restore peace to Syria and Iraq. The West has an obligation to restore that peace, but it is obvious to the international community that nations must take more aggressive steps to stabilize the region. Saudi Arabia is beginning to pick up the pieces and it has started with Yemen. It’s clear that King Salman has the vision to help the region return to normalcy.
