Diplomat to Speak at Michigan Tech About the Dramatic Changes Occurring in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, recently visited the White House to discuss topics such as the Iran nuclear deal, Saudi Arabia’s dispute with Qatar, the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen and the acquisition of advanced weapons and nuclear reactors. Prince Mohammed recently had four hundred wealthy Saudi businessmen, including 11 of his royal cousins, arrested and detained in a luxury hotel on charges of corruption.

What is going on in Saudi Arabia and what does the unprecedented rise of Prince Mohammed say about the country’s future direction, its role in the Middle East, and its sometimes controversial relationship with America?

Todd Holmstrom, a former diplomat with the US State Department, will present “A Diplomat’s Perception of Current Events in Saudi Arabia,” from 5 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 4, in Dow 642. Holmstrom, who served as the US consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from 2014 to 2016, came to know Prince Mohammed before he rose to prominence. Holmstrom last served as acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and was responsible for transitioning US efforts to advance Middle East peace from the end of President Obama’s administration to the beginning of President Trump’s administration.

The talk is sponsored by the Michigan Tech Department of Social Sciences, the Pavlis Honors College and the Great Lakes Research Center.