US president Donald Trump is embracing Saudi Arabia as his key ally in the Middle East, and crown prince Mohammad bin Salman as his friend. But beyond the personal sentiment between the leaders, the US-Saudi relationship remains rooted in transactional terms. Unyielding support from Trump has allowed Prince Mohammad to consolidate his position at home, purging from the government senior royals with whom Washington has collaborated for decades. "You are now more than a crown prince," Trump told him during a 20 March meeting at the White House.
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