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Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, born in 1988, is a prominent member of the Saudi royal family. He is the tenth child and ninth son of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the current monarch of Saudi Arabia, and a grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As a younger brother to Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), Khalid holds a significant position within the Al Saud dynasty, which has ruled Saudi Arabia since 1932. His familial ties place him at the heart of the kingdom's power structure, influencing both domestic and international affairs.
Khalid bin Salman has pursued a career in diplomacy and military leadership. He served as Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States from 2017 to 2019, where he played a key role in strengthening bilateral relations amid regional tensions. In 2019, he was appointed as Deputy Minister of Defense, assisting in the oversight of Saudi Arabia's armed forces during critical operations, including the ongoing conflict in Yemen. On September 27, 2022, he was elevated to the position of Minister of Defense, succeeding his brother Mohammed bin Salman in that role, and continues to shape Saudi military strategy and foreign policy.
As Minister of Defense, Khalid bin Salman is involved in high-stakes decisions related to Saudi Arabia's security and regional influence, including alliances with the United States and responses to threats from Iran and Yemen's Houthi rebels. His tenure has been marked by efforts to modernize the Saudi military and navigate international scrutiny over human rights and the Yemen war, though specific personal controversies remain limited in public records. His close relationship with MBS underscores his integral role in the kingdom's Vision 2030 reforms and geopolitical maneuvering.