Muhammad bin Nayef

Muhammad bin Nayef was born in Jeddah on 30 August 1959.{{cite web|title=Council of Ministers: Membership|url-status=dead

|url=http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/Biographies-of-Ministers.aspx|work=Royal Embassy, Washington DC|access-date=25 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616222323/http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/Biographies-of-Ministers.aspx|archive-date=16 June 2011}}{{cite news|title=Royal Grandson Mohammed bin Nayef: A King in Waiting|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/23393|date=6 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222001022/http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/23393|archive-date=22 December 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=21 December 2016|work=Al Akhbar}} He is one of ten children of Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz,{{cite book|author=Stig Stenslie|title=Regime Stability in Saudi Arabia: The Challenge of Succession|publisher=Routledge

|isbn=978-1-136-51157-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-g81rF4Zga4C&pg=PA39|year=2012|page=39}}{{cite news

|author=Caryle Murphy|title=The heir apparent|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/saudi-arabia/090504/Prince-Nayef-Abdul-Aziz|access-date=5 May 2012|newspaper=Global Post|date=5 June 2008}} himself a son of King Abdulaziz and full brother of King Fahd and King Salman.[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/gulf/sudairi.htm Al Sudairi Clan]. Global Security. Retrieved 13 October 2011. Prince Muhammad has an older brother, Saud bin Nayef, and two younger half-brothers, Nawwaf bin Nayef and Fahd bin Nayef.{{cite news|title=Saudi king names new governor for restive oil region|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-appointment-idUSBRE90D0FQ20130114|access-date=14 January 2013|work=Reuters|date=14 January 2013|location=Jeddah}} His mother, Al Jawhara bint Abdulaziz bin Musaed, was a member of the Al Jiluwi branch of the House of Saud.{{cite web|author=Joshua Teitelbaum

|title=Saudi succession and stability|work=BESA Center|access-date=24 April 2012|url=http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/docs/perspectives153.pdf

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614053719/http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/docs/perspectives153.pdf|url-status=dead|date=1 November 2011|archive-date=14 June 2012}} She died in July 2019.{{cite news|title=Saudi royal passes away, court announces|work=Khaleej Times|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/region/saudi-arabia/20190705/saudi-royal-passes-away-court-announces|access-date=19 June 2020|date=5 July 2019}}

Muhammad bin Nayef studied in the United States.{{cite news|title=Prince Muhammad escapes assassination attempt|access-date=3 November 2012|url=http://www.susris.com/articles/2009/special-reports/090828-muhammad-attacked.html|work=SUSRIS|date=28 August 2009|agency=Arab News

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922060846/http://susris.com/articles/2009/special-reports/090828-muhammad-attacked.html|archive-date=22 September 2013|url-status=usurped}} There he received a bachelor's degree in political science in 1981.{{cite book

|author=Joseph A. Kéchichian|title=Saudi Arabia in 2030: The Emergence of a New Leadership|year=2019|publisher=Asan Institute for Policy Studies|pages=23–40|chapter-url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/resrep20689.8.pdf|chapter=Succession and Primogeniture|journal=Saudi Arabia in 2030 |jstor=resrep20689.8}} He took courses at Lewis & Clark College, but did not receive a degree.[https://time.com/3690911/mohammed-bin-nayef-lewis-clark/ So This Saudi Prince Didn't Actually Graduate from Lewis & Clark College] Time. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015. He attended the FBI's security courses from 1985 to 1988, and trained with Scotland Yard's anti-terrorism units from 1992 to 1994.

File:Hillary Rodham Clinton and Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz after signing ceremony 2013-01-16.jpg, 16 January 2013]]

Muhammad bin Nayef was appointed assistant interior minister for security affairs in 1999. He had been a businessman before this appointment.{{cite news|author=Caryle Murphy|title=In Saudi Arabia. A softer approach to fighting terror|access-date=24 May 2012|newspaper=Global Post|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/saudi-arabia/100909/saudi-arabia-counterterrorism|date=10 September 2010}} He was widely credited for the success of the Saudi counter-terrorism program,{{cite web|title=Saudi Succession Developments|work=Foreign Reports Inc.|url=http://www.foreignreports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Saudi-Succession-Developments.pdf|access-date=25 April 2012|date=28 October 2011}}{{cite web|author=Bruce Riedel|url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-case-of-saudi-arabias-mohammed-bin-nayef/|title=The case of Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Nayef|date=February 12, 2021|publisher=Brookings Institution}} and was regarded as the architect of the government's counter-insurgency program.{{cite web|author=Joshua Teitelbaum|title=King Abdullah's Illness and the Saudi Succession

|url=http://jcpa.org/article/king-abdullah%E2%80%99s-illness-and-the-saudi-succession/|work=Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs|access-date=26 April 2012|date=8 December 2010}} He also served as the director of civil defense during his term as assistant minister.{{cite news|title=CDO Grants Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Medal of Commander|access-date=10 November 2012|url=http://www.gulfinthemedia.com/index.php?m=gcc_press&id=2124083&cnt=171&lang=en|work=Gulf in the Media|date=4 October 2009|agency=Saudi Press Agency|location=Riyadh|archive-date=14 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014174948/http://www.gulfinthemedia.com/index.php?m=gcc_press&id=2124083&cnt=171&lang=en}} He was considered to be an effective assistant interior minister.{{cite web|work=Foreign Policy|author=Christopher M. Davidson|title=Lords of the Realm|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/02/21/lords_of_the_realm?page=full

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803171551/http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/02/21/lords_of_the_realm?page=full|url-status=dead|access-date=26 April 2012|date=21 February 2011|archive-date=3 August 2011}}

In 2004, Muhammad bin Nayef was appointed to the rank of minister, becoming number two at the Ministry of Interior. In October 2010, he warned the U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser of an al-Qaeda plot to bomb transatlantic cargo aircraft.{{cite news|author1=Mark Mazzetti|author2=Robert F. Worth|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/world/31terror.html|work=The New York Times|title=U.S. Sees Complexity of Bombs as Link to Al Qaeda|date=30 October 2010|access-date=25 February 2017}}{{cite web|author=Jeremy M. Sharp|title=Yemen: Background and U.S. Relations|url=https://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/158485.pd|work=Congressional Research Service|access-date=1 June 2012|date=3 March 2011}} After the appointment of Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as interior minister upon Prince Nayef's death in July 2012, Prince Muhammad became deputy interior minister.{{cite journal|title=Changes in Saudi Arabia and Syria|journal=Middle East in Focus|year=2013|series=Commentary|url=http://www.mepc.org/articles-commentary/commentary/changes-saudi-arabia-and-syria?print}}

In November 2009, King Abdullah appointed Muhammad as a member of the influential Supreme Economic Council of Saudi Arabia.{{cite web|title=Royal Decree to add Prince Saud Al Faisal, Prince Mohammed bin Naif|access-date=29 April 2012|date=16 November 2009|url=https://www.sec.gov.sa/News/Royal-Decree-to-add-Prince-Saud-Al-Faisal.aspx?lang=en-US|work=Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Supreme Economic Council|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921152807/http://www.sec.gov.sa/News/Royal-Decree-to-add-Prince-Saud-Al-Faisal.aspx?lang=en-US|archive-date=21 September 2013}} This move was regarded as approval of the increase in then-Crown Prince Nayef's power by King Abdullah.{{cite news|author=Anne-Beatrice Clasmann|title=Discreetly, Saudis speculate about the throne succession

|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/features/article_1514417.php/Discreetly-Saudis-speculate-about-the-throne-succession-Feature|access-date=29 April 2012|work=M&C News|date=20 November 2009|archive-date=21 September 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921182612/http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/features/article_1514417.php/Discreetly-Saudis-speculate-about-the-throne-succession-Feature}} On the other hand, this appointment enabled Prince Muhammad to extend his influence over the government's economy policy.{{cite news|title=The Al Saud succession challenge|url=http://www.ameinfo.com/balance-clerics-liberals-obstacle-reform-country-306725-more2|access-date=17 July 2012|work=AMEinfo|date=17 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719224059/http://www.ameinfo.com/balance-clerics-liberals-obstacle-reform-country-306725-more2|archive-date=19 July 2012}}

On 5 November 2012, King Abdullah issued a royal decree and dismissed Prince Ahmed as minister of interior and appointed Prince Muhammad to the post. He became the tenth interior minister of Saudi Arabia.{{cite news|title=Profile: Saudi Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif|url=http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=3&id=31710|access-date=1 February 2013|newspaper=Asharq Alawsat|date=6 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130215131130/http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=3&id=31710|archive-date=15 February 2013}} Prince Muhammad took the oath of office in front of King Abdullah on 6 November 2012.{{cite news

|title=Prince Muhammad takes oath of office|url=http://www.menafn.com/menafn/1093576723/Saudi-Prince-Muhammad-takes-oath-of-office|access-date=10 November 2012|work=MENAFN|date=7 November 2012|agency=Arab News|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124005026/http://www.menafn.com/menafn/1093576723/Saudi-Prince-Muhammad-takes-oath-of-office}} His appointment was criticized by human rights activists due to Prince Muhammad's professional experience as a tough enforcer who imprisoned thousands of suspected troublemakers in Saudi Arabia.{{cite news|title=The younger generation, at last?|date=10 November 2012

|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21566021-quietly-competent-new-interior-minister-desert-kingdom-younger|access-date=8 December 2012|newspaper=The Economist}} However, he was regarded as less corrupt and less likely to abuse his power in comparison to other senior princes of his generation.

In January 2013, Prince Muhammad met with British Prime Minister David Cameron in London.{{cite news|author=Simon Henderson|title=Leadership Change in Oil-Rich Saudi Province|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/leadership-change-oil-rich-saudi-province|access-date=3 April 2013|work=The Washington Institute|date=14 January 2013}} and U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington.{{cite web|title=Readout of the President's Meeting with Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Mohammed bin Nayef|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/01/14/readout-presidents-meeting-saudi-minister-interior-prince-mohammed-bin-n|work=White House Office of the Press Secretary|date=January 14, 2013}} In late January 2013, Prince Muhammad announced that Saudi women would be allowed to work at the Saudi intelligence agency.{{cite news|title=Saudi women allowed to work for intelligence agency|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/14801|access-date=10 February 2013

|newspaper=Al Akhbar|date=29 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211045404/http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/14801

|archive-date=11 February 2013|url-status=dead}}

In February 2014, Prince Muhammad replaced Bandar bin Sultan, then intelligence chief of Saudi Arabia, and was placed in charge of Saudi intelligence in Syria.{{cite web|author=Thomas W. Lippman|title=Saudi Intel Chief Prince Bandar Is Out, But Is He Really Out?|url=http://www.mei.edu/content/saudi-intel-chief-prince-bandar-out-he-really-out|work=Middle East Institute|access-date=14 July 2014|date=16 April 2014}} Muhammad was assisted in this effort by Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah, the minister of the Saudi Arabian National Guard.{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/saudi-arabias-domestic-and-foreign-intelligence-challenges|title=Saudi Arabia's Domestic and Foreign Intelligence Challenges|author=Simon Henderson|date=21 February 2014

|work=Washington Institute for Near East Policy|access-date=24 February 2014}}

Until his ouster in June 2017, Muhammad bin Nayef had spent 15 years as Saudi Arabia's most influential security official; he maintained close connections with American and British intelligence communities.{{cite news|title=Deposed Saudi crown prince confined to palace|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/29/deposed-saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-nayef-confined-to-palace|access-date=29 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306002300/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/29/deposed-saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-nayef-confined-to-palace|url-status=live|work=The Guardian|archive-date=6 March 2020}} On 10 February 2017, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) granted its "George Tenet Medal" to Prince Muhammad for what the agency called his "excellent intelligence performance, in the domain of counter-terrorism and his unbound contribution to realize world security and peace". The medal, named after George Tenet, CIA's longest-serving director, from 1996 to 2004, was handed to him by the newly appointed CIA director Mike Pompeo during a reception ceremony in Riyadh in the presence of minister of defense Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. It was the first reaffirmation of ties between the Islamic monarchy and United States since President Donald Trump took office on 20 January 2017.Bethan McKernan. (10 February 2017). [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/cia-saudi-arabia-crown-prince-muhammed-bin-naye-medal-counter-terrorism-work-intelligence-a7577221.html CIA awards Saudi crown prince with medal for counter-terrorism work] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624152131/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/cia-saudi-arabia-crown-prince-muhammed-bin-naye-medal-counter-terrorism-work-intelligence-a7577221.html|date=24 June 2018}}, The Independent The reception was attended by senior civil and military officials and by the U.S. Charge d'affaires to the Kingdom, Christopher Hensel. Prince Muhammed and Pompeo discussed security with Turkish officials, and said Saudi Arabia's relationship with the U.S. is "historic and strategic". He added that the move shows Washington's recognition of what he called Riyadh's anti-terrorism efforts.[http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/02/10/CIA-awards-Saudi-Crown-Prince-for-efforts-against-terrorism-.html CIA honors Saudi Crown Prince for efforts against terrorism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223043836/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/02/10/CIA-awards-Saudi-Crown-Prince-for-efforts-against-terrorism-.html|date=23 February 2017}}, Al Arabiya English, 10 February 2017

In the mid-2000s, Muhammad bin Nayef, unlike most of the royal family, talked to the media.{{cite news|title=Saudi Arabia's ambitious Al Qaida fighter|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8304825|publisher=NBC News|date=11 July 2005|access-date=30 September 2009}} Like his father, Prince Nayef, he took a hard line against terrorism in Saudi Arabia. He, and other decision-making elites, asserted that terrorism must be treated as a form of crime and fought with ruthless policing methods.{{cite journal|author=Amir Taheri|title=Saudi Arabia: Between Terror and Reform|journal=American Foreign Policy Interests|year=2004|volume=26

|issue=6|pages=457–465|doi=10.1080/10803920490905523|s2cid=154222715|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/10803920490905523|url-access=subscription}} Walid Jumblatt described Muhammad bin Nayef as the Saudi equivalent of General Ashraf Rifi, former director-general of Lebanon's Internal Security Forces.{{cite news|title=Jumbulatt recounts Saudi trip, Money problems, Syrian threats|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/401/

|newspaper=Al Akhbar|date=11 July 2006|access-date=24 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123203824/http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/401|archive-date=23 January 2015|url-status=dead}}

Muhammad bin Nayef was commended by Western intelligence agencies for Saudi Arabia's counterterrorism programs. After his appointment as interior minister, U.S. diplomats viewed him as "the most pro-American minister" within the Saudi Arabian cabinet.{{cite news|title=Obama meets pro-U.S. young Turk in aging Saudi cabinet|date=15 January 2013

|url=http://www.worldtribune.com/2013/01/15/obama-meets-pro-u-s-young-turk-in-aging-saudi-cabinet/|access-date=19 April 2013|newspaper=World Tribune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405033742/http://www.worldtribune.com/2013/01/15/obama-meets-pro-u-s-young-turk-in-aging-saudi-cabinet/|archive-date=5 April 2013|location=Washington|url-status=dead}}

In 2011, The Economist described Prince Muhammad as energetic and low-key, and stated that he was one of the candidates for the throne when the line of succession passes to the grandsons of King Abdulaziz.{{cite news|title=Time, surely, for a much younger one

|url=http://www.economist.com/node/21534829|access-date=26 April 2012|newspaper=The Economist|date=29 October 2011|archive-date=3 May 2012

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503031432/http://www.economist.com/node/21534829|url-status=live}} He was also considered to be one of the possible contenders after his father's death in June 2012.{{cite news|author=Thomas W. Lippman|title=Saudi Arabia Moves Closer to A New Generation of Leaders|url=https://www.mei.edu/publications/saudi-arabia-moves-closer-new-generation-leaders|access-date=17 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005163931/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2012/al-monitor/saudi-arabia-moves-closer-to-a-n.html|archive-date=5 October 2012|url-status=dead|work=Al Monitor|date=16 June 2012}} In 2011, Michael Hayden reported that Prince Muhammad was the world's fifth most powerful defender.{{cite news|title=Michael Hayden: The World's 7 Most Powerful Defenders And Offenders|url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/lmm45emih/5-prince-mohammed-bin-nayef-assistant-minister-of-the-interior-saudi-arabia/|access-date=3 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205062537/http://www.forbes.com/pictures/lmm45emih/5-prince-mohammed-bin-nayef-assistant-minister-of-the-interior-saudi-arabia/|url-status=dead|work=Forbes|date=11 February 2011|archive-date=5 December 2012}} In April 2016, Prince Muhammad was named by Time as one of the 100 Most Influential People.{{cite news

|title=Relentless campaign against Al-Qaeda gets crown prince Time honor|url=http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/913986|access-date=22 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422104900/http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/913986|url-status=live|work=Arab News

|date=22 April 2016|location=Jeddah|archive-date=22 April 2016}}

Muhammad bin Nayef has escaped four assassination attempts. He was injured in the third attempt, and unhurt in the others.{{cite news|author=Abdullah Al Oraifij|title=Fourth assassination attempt against Prince foiled|url=http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010081681128|access-date=19 April 2013|newspaper=Saudi Gazette|date=16 August 2010|location=Riyadh|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822152516/http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010081681128|archive-date=22 August 2010}}

The third attempt was on 27 August 2009. Muhammad bin Nayef was injured by Abdullah al-Asiri, a suicide bomber linked to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Al-Asiri spoke to Muhammad bin Nayef a few days prior to the bombing, and expressed a desire to surrender himself to the authorities as part of the country's terrorist rehabilitation program. This was apparently a plot to get admitted to the Prince's palace.{{cite news|author=Kevin Sullivan|title=Meet the Saudi royal family's rising star, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/meet-the-saudi-royal-familys-rising-star-mohammed-bin-nayef/2015/01/23/2af68108-a308-11e4-91fc-7dff95a14458_story.html|access-date=23 January 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=23 January 2015|location=Riyadh|archive-date=24 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124202423/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/meet-the-saudi-royal-familys-rising-star-mohammed-bin-nayef/2015/01/23/2af68108-a308-11e4-91fc-7dff95a14458_story.html|url-status=live}} Al-Asiri is believed to have traveled to Jeddah from the Yemeni province of Marib. During Ramadan, al-Asiri waited in line at the Prince's palace as a "well-wisher". He exploded a suicide bomb, killing himself, but apparently only slightly injuring Muhammad bin Nayef, who was protected from the full force of the blast by al-Asiri's body.{{citation|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/29/world/middleeast/29saudi.html|title=Would-Be Killer Linked to Al Qaeda, Saudis Say|newspaper=The New York Times|date=28 August 2009|author=Michael Slackman|access-date=13 May 2010|archive-date=9 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709205021/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/29/world/middleeast/29saudi.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-42157320090902|title=Saudi prince spoke to bomber on phone before attack

|date=2 September 2009|work=Reuters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917123916/http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-42157320090902|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 September 2017}} The explosive device was hidden inside al-Asiri's rectum{{cite book|author=Leon Panetta|date=2014|title=Worthy Fights|url=http://thepenguinpress.com/book/worthy-fights-a-memoir-of-leadership-in-war-and-peace/|publisher=Penguin Press|page=244|isbn=978-1-59420-596-5|access-date=23 August 2015|archive-date=12 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912094559/http://thepenguinpress.com/book/worthy-fights-a-memoir-of-leadership-in-war-and-peace/|url-status=live}} and anal canal, which security experts described as a novel technique.{{citation|url=http://homelandsecuritynewswire.com/saudi-suicide-bomber-hid-ied-his-anal-cavity|title=Saudi suicide bomber hid IED in his anal cavity|date=9 September 2009|work=Homeland Security Newswire|access-date=17 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231030044/http://homelandsecuritynewswire.com/saudi-suicide-bomber-hid-ied-his-anal-cavity|archive-date=31 December 2009|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/saudi-bombmaker-key-suspect-in-yemen-plot/|title=Saudi Bombmaker Key Suspect in Yemen Plot|date=1 November 2010|work=CBS News|agency=Associated Press|access-date=24 April 2015|archive-date=17 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117151132/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/saudi-bombmaker-key-suspect-in-yemen-plot/|url-status=live}} Muhammad bin Nayef appeared on state television with a bandage around two of his fingers on his left hand. He stated, "I did not want him to be searched, but he surprised me by blowing himself up."{{cite news|title=Saudi prince wounded by suicide bomber vows to fight Al-Qaida|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/saudi-prince-wounded-by-suicide-bomber-vows-to-fight-al-qaida-1.282875|access-date=24 May 2012|newspaper=Haaretz|date=28 August 2009|archive-date=22 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022175818/http://www.haaretz.com/news/saudi-prince-wounded-by-suicide-bomber-vows-to-fight-al-qaida-1.282875|url-status=live}}

According to Bruce Riedel, a former CIA officer and director of the Intelligence Project at the Brookings Institution, "the weight of the evidence I have seen is that [bin Nayef] was more injured in the assassination attempt than was admitted." To treat his injuries the prince "got onto a pain killer routine that was very addictive. I think that problem got progressively worse." According to The New York Times, citing "an associate of the royal family", the prince's alleged addiction was cited to "strengthen support for the sudden change in the line of succession" that removed bin Nayef from office.

This was the first assassination attempt against a royal family member since 2003, when Saudi Arabia faced a sharp uptick in Al Qaeda-linked attacks.{{cite news|title=King commended the efforts of the Prince in the service of country and religion|url=http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/08/28/83160.html|work=Al Arabiya|language=ar|date=28 August 2009|access-date=30 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831071819/http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/08/28/83160.html|archive-date=31 August 2009|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Al Qaeda claims Saudi prince bomb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8229581.stm

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527112153/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8229581.stm|url-status=live|access-date=3 November 2012|work=BBC|date=30 August 2009|archive-date=27 May 2012}} The last assassination attempt against Prince Muhammad was in August 2010.

On 23 January 2015, it was announced that King Salman had appointed Muhammad bin Nayef as deputy crown prince.{{cite news|title=New Saudi Deputy Crown Prince marks generational shift|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/saudi-succession-mohammed-naif-idUKL5N0B67FG20150123

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108092730/https://uk.reuters.com/article/saudi-succession-mohammed-nayef/new-saudi-deputy-crown-prince-marks-generational-shift-idUKL5N0B67FG20150123|url-status=dead|work=Reuters|access-date=23 January 2014|archive-date=8 January 2020}} The announcement reportedly helped calm fears of dynastic instability over the line of succession.{{cite web

|url=https://www.msn.com/en-sa/news/world/saudi-arabia-acts-fast-on-succession-after-kings-death/ar-AA8v0yL|title=Saudi Arabia acts fast on succession after king's death|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123140508/http://www.msn.com/en-sa/news/world/saudi-arabia-acts-fast-on-succession-after-kings-death/ar-AA8v0yL|archive-date=23 January 2015|work=MSN|date=23 January 2015|access-date=23 January 2015|url-status=dead}} Thus, Prince Muhammad became the first of his generation to be officially in line for the throne. In addition to his other posts, Prince Muhammad was named the chair of the Council for Political and Security Affairs which was established on 29 January 2015.{{cite news|author=Simeon Kerr|title=Saudi king stamps his authority with staff shake-up and handouts|work=Financial Times

|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8045e3e0-a850-11e4-bd17-00144feab7de.html|access-date=1 February 2015|date=30 January 2015|location=Riyadh}}

File:Secretary Kerry Sits Across from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef at the Saudi Ministry of Interior in Riyadh (17209481559).jpg, 6 May 2015]]

On 29 April 2015, Muhammad bin Nayef was named crown prince, replacing Muqrin bin Abdulaziz in the post.{{cite news|title=Saudi king replaces crown prince in cabinet reshuffle|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/04/saudi-king-salman-replaces-crown-prince-cabinet-reshuffle-150429020021160.html|access-date=29 April 2015|work=Al Jazeera|date=29 April 2015}} MBN's younger cousin, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), was named deputy crown prince at age 29.Mark Mazzetti and Ben Hubbard. (17 October 2016) [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/16/world/rise-of-saudi-prince-shatters-decades-of-royal-tradition.html Rise of Saudi Prince Shatters Decades of Royal Tradition], The New York Times. The two princes frequently clashed, and MBS, known for his ambition, quickly consolidated influence within the royal court. MBS, as defense minister, launched and led the largely unsuccessful Saudi military campaign in Yemen in March 2015, while MBN's support for the war was muted.

By 2016, MBS's rise within the Saudi royal family raised speculation that he would displace MBN as heir apparent, and ultimately become king. Tensions between the two ratcheted up during the 2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis, in which MBS favored the regional blockade of Qatar, while MBN favored a diplomatic solution and sought (without MBS's knowledge) a backchannel for discussions with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.{{cite news|author=Anuj Chopra|title='The Godfather, Saudi-style': inside the palace coup that brought MBS to power|newspaper=The Guardian|date=29 November 2022|access-date=10 April 2024| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/29/mbs-v-mbn-the-bitter-power-struggle-between-rival-saudi-princes}} MBS and MBN also jockeyed for influence with other Trump administration officials, such as Jared Kushner; their competition to gain the administration's favor was another major source of contention. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, who had a poor relationship with MBN, supported MBS during the power struggle. Amid rising tensions, MBN's closest advisor, the intelligence official Saad Aljabri, fled to Turkey with his family.

Muhammad bin Nayef was deposed by royal decree on 21 June 2017, amid a palace coup that fundamentally reoriented the Saudi power structure.{{cite news|title=Saudi King Rewrites Succession, Replacing Heir With Son, 31|date=21 June 2017 |archive-date=26 January 2018|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/21/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman.html|access-date=29 June 2017|work=New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126162030/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/21/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman.html|url-status=live |last1=Hubbard |first1=Ben }} In his place, MBS, the king's son, was made crown prince and heir to the throne. Muhammad bin Nayef was also relieved of all positions by royal decree,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-ruler-kingdom-monarch-king-salman-a7799986.html|title=Saudi king removes crown prince|date=21 June 2017|author=Stephen Kalin|work=The Independent|location=London|access-date=5 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908210650/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-ruler-kingdom-monarch-king-salman-a7799986.html|url-status=live|archive-date=8 September 2017}} losing his position as interior minister. Abdulaziz bin Saud Al Saud replaced Prince Muhammad as minister of interior.{{cite news|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2017/06/21/PROFILE-The-new-Saudi-Interior-Minister.html|access-date=24 June 2017

|title=Profile: New Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef|date=21 June 2017|work=Al Arabiya English|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022025447/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2017/06/21/PROFILE-The-new-Saudi-Interior-Minister.html|url-status=live|archive-date=22 October 2018}} The change of succession had been predicted in December 2015 by an unusually blunt and public memo published by the German Federal Intelligence Service,{{cite news|work=The Telegraph|author=Justin Huggler|date=2 December 2015|title=Saudi Arabia 'destabilising Arab world', German intelligence warns

|access-date=5 April 2018|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/saudiarabia/12029546/Saudi-Arabia-destabilising-Arab-world-German-intelligence-warns.html}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/prince-mohammed-bin-salman-naive-arrogant-saudi-prince-is-playing-with-fire-a6804481.html|title=Prince Mohammed bin Salman: Naive, arrogant Saudi prince is playing with fire:German intelligence memo shows the threat from the kingdom's headstrong defence minister|author=Patrick Cockburn|date=21 June 2017|work=The Independent|access-date=5 September 2017}} for which it was subsequently rebuked by the German government.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/04/world/europe/germany-rebukes-its-own-intelligence-agency-for-criticizing-saudi-policy.html

|title=Germany Rebukes Its Own Intelligence Agency for Criticizing Saudi Policy|author=Alison Smaledec|date=3 December 2015|work=The New York Times|access-date=21 June 2017}}

During his ouster in late June 2017, Muhammad bin Nayef was reportedly detained and threatened for hours, and pressured to resign as crown prince and pledge fealty to Mohammed bin Salman, to whom other members of the Allegiance Council had already submitted. Muhammad bin Nayef ultimately gave a televised pledge of loyalty, reportedly at gunpoint. He was placed under house arrest at his palace in Jeddah.{{cite news|author1=Ben Hubbard

|author2=Mark Schmitt|author3=Eric Mazzetti|title=Saudi King's Son Plotted Effort to Oust His Rival|work=The New York Times|date=18 July 2017 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/18/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-mohammed-bin-nayef-mohammed-bin-salman.html|access-date=19 July 2017}} Muhammad bin Nayef was stripped of much of his wealth, with confiscations estimated at at least 4.75 billion USD (17.8 billion SAR). His bank accounts were blocked in late fall 2017.{{cite news|author=Juan Cole|title=It Seems That Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince MBS Is Continuing His Purge of Potential Rival Princes

|url=https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/03/07/it-seems-saudi-arabias-crown-prince-mbs-continuing-his-purge-potential-rival|access-date=8 March 2020|work=Common Dreams}} In December 2017, a letter under MBN's name was sent to HSBC in Geneva, asking the bank to transfer his funds to a Saudi account; HSBC, believing that MBN may have been under duress, declined to do so. Similar requests to transfer MBN's Europe-based assets were reportedly made in early 2021.

{{See also|2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge}}

Following his removal, Muhammad bin Nayef's wife and daughters were forbidden from leaving Saudi Arabia.{{cite news|author=David Ignatius

|title=The dazzling rise and tragic fall of Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Nayef|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/07/05/dazzling-rise-tragic-fall-saudi-arabias-mohammed-bin-nayef/|access-date=2 September 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=5 July 2020}} MBN's house arrest was loosened in 2017, but he was not permitted to leave the kingdom. In 2018 and 2019, as MBS consolidated his power, MBN was permitted to hunt within Saudi Arabia and to attend weddings and funerals of royal family members. In March 2020, however, MBN was arrested at a private desert retreat outside Riyadh.{{cite news|title=Saudi Arabia detains senior royals for alleged coup plot, including king's brother: sources|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-detentions-princes/saudi-arabia-detains-senior-royals-for-alleged-coup-plot-including-kings-brother-sources-idUSKBN20U001|access-date=8 March 2020

|work=Reuters|date=7 March 2020}} The prince, his half-brother Nawwaf bin Nayef, and his uncle Ahmed bin Abdulaziz were all charged with treason, accused of conspiring against MBS.{{cite news|author1=Summer Said|author2=Justin Scheck

|author3=Warren Strobel|title=Top Saudi Royal Family Members Detained|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/top-saudi-royal-family-members-detained-11583531033|access-date=6 March 2020|work=Wall Street Journal}}

Nayef was reportedly held in solitary confinement for at least six months and was tortured, resulting in lasting physical injury. In August 2020, MBN's legal representatives raised concerns over his well-being, alleging that Saudi authorities had refused to allow his doctor or his family members to visit him since his arrest five months earlier.{{cite news|work=Financial Times|date=24 August 2020|url=https://www.ft.com/content/75525595-a4e8-44e1-ab2c-2a6baf6e1f58|title=Lawyers sound alarm on welfare of former Saudi crown prince

|access-date=24 August 2020|author=Andrew England}} At some point in late 2020, Nayef was moved to the Al Yamamah Palace complex in Riyadh, where he remained as of late 2022. According to a source cited by Guardian, "He is not allowed outside his small unit and he is filmed and recorded at all times.... He is not allowed visitors, except certain family members on rare occasions, nor can he see his personal doctor or legal representatives. He has been made to sign documents without reading them." In private discussions with Saudi authorities, the U.S., under both the Trump and Biden administrations, has urged the release of MBN, without success.

Muhammad bin Nayef is a son-in-law of Sultan bin Abdulaziz.{{cite journal|author=Joseph A. Kéchichian

|title=Succession Challenges in the Arab Gulf Monarchies|journal=Asan Institute for Policy Studies|pages=51–66|year=2015|jstor=resrep20925.8 }}{{cite journal|title=King Abdullah dies, Salman's succession marks return of Sudairis|journal=Gulf States Newsletter

|date=23 January 2015|volume=39 |url=https://www.crossborderinformation.com/sites/default/files/GSN%20985-Saudi-succession.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601195432/https://www.crossborderinformation.com/sites/default/files/GSN%20985-Saudi-succession.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 June 2021|page=4}} His wife is Princess Reema bint Sultan Al Saud, and they have two daughters, Princess Sarah and Princess Lulua.{{cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/profiles/2015/01/27/Profile-Prince-Mohammed-bin-Naif-bin-Abdulaziz-Al-Saud.html|title=Profile: Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud|work=Al Arabiya|date=27 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119014358/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/profiles/2015/01/27/Profile-Prince-Mohammed-bin-Naif-bin-Abdulaziz-Al-Saud.html|url-status=live|access-date=31 October 2015|archive-date=19 November 2015}}{{cite news|title=Man of the new generation|work=The National|date=19 May 2015|id={{ProQuest|1681700133}}}}

Muhammad bin Nayef has diabetes. Before his ouster from power in 2017, he frequently took long hunting and falconry vacations in Algeria, where he maintained a desert villa.

According to the Panama Papers, Muhammad bin Nayef purchased Panamanian companies from Mossack Fonseca."[http://www.france24.com/en/20160404-panama-papers-politicians-named-europe-africa A world tour of the politicians named in the Panama Papers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822021758/http://www.france24.com/en/20160404-panama-papers-politicians-named-europe-africa|date=22 August 2017}}". France 24. 5 April 2016.

In 2015, Muhammad bin Nayef was awarded the George Tenet medal by the CIA.{{cite news|author=Madawi Al Rasheed|title=Why King Salman must Replace M.B.S.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/18/opinion/saudi-arabia-jamal-khashoggi-crown-prince-murder-king-salman-must-replace-mbs-stability.html|access-date=15 September 2020|work=The New York Times|date=18 October 2018|archive-date=30 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330222423/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/18/opinion/saudi-arabia-jamal-khashoggi-crown-prince-murder-king-salman-must-replace-mbs-stability.html?auth=login-google1tap&login=google1tap|url-status=live}}

On 4 March 2016, when Muhammad bin Nayef was crown prince, he was awarded Légion d’honneur by then French president François Hollande citing his efforts in combating terrorism in the region.{{cite journal|author=Stig Stenslie|title=Salman's Succession: Challenges to Stability in Saudi Arabia|journal=The Washington Quarterly|date=Summer 2016|volume=39|issue=3|pages=117–138

|doi=10.1080/0163660X.2016.1204413|s2cid=156097022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/07/france-awards-legion-dhonneur-to-saudi-prince-for-terror-fight|title=France awards Legion d'Honneur to Saudi prince 'for terror fight'|work=The Guardian

|date=7 March 2016|access-date=17 December 2016}}

{{ahnentafel

|collapsed=yes |align=center

|boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;

|boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;

|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;

|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;

|boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe;

|1= 1. Muhammad bin Nayef{{cite web|title=Family Tree of Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud|url=http://www.datarabia.com/royals/famtree.do?id=176793|work=Datarabia|access-date=24 May 2012|archive-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921092309/http://www.datarabia.com/royals/famtree.do?id=176793|url-status=live}}

|2= 2. Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

|3= 3. Al Jawhara bint Abdulaziz bin Musaed bin Jiluwi

|4= 4. Ibn Saud

|5= 5. Hassa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi

|6= 6. Abdulaziz bin Musaid bin Jiluwi

|7= 7. Tarfa bint Musa'id bin Battal Al Mutayri

|8= 8. Abdul Rahman bin Faisal

|9= 9. Sara bint Ahmed Al Sudairi

|10= 10. Ahmed bin Muhammed Al Sudairi

|11= 11. Sharifa bint Ali bin Muhammad Al Suwaidi

|12= 12. Musaid bin Jiluwi bin Turki Al Jiluwi

|13= 13. Al Jawhara bint Nasir bin Faysal Al Thunayyan

|14= 14. Musa'id bin Battal Al Mutayri

|16= 16. Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud

|17= 17. Sara bint Mishari bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Saud

|18= 18. Ahmed Al Kabir bin Muhammad bin Turki Al Sudairi

|20= 20. Muhammed bin Ahmed Al Kabir Al Sudairi

|22= 22. Ali bin Muhammad Al Suwaidi

|24= 24. Jiluwi bin Turki Al Saud

|25= 25. Noura bint Ahmad Al Sudairi

|26= 26. Nasir bin Faysal bin Nasir Al Thunayyan

|28= 28. Battal Al Mutayri}}

; Footnotes

{{Notelist}}

; References

{{Reflist}}

• {{commons category-inline|Muhammad bin Nayef}}

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{{S-ttl|title=Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia|years=28 April 2015 – 21 June 2017}}

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{{s-bef|before=Ahmed bin Abdulaziz}}

{{s-ttl|title=Minister of the Interior|years=5 November 2012 – 21 June 2017}}

{{s-aft|after=Abdulaziz bin Saud}}

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{{s-bef|rows=2|before=Muqrin bin Abdulaziz}}

{{s-ttl|title=Second Deputy Prime Minister|years=23 January 2015 – 28 April 2015}}

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{{s-ttl|title=First Deputy Prime Minister|years=28 April 2015 – 21 June 2017}}

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Muhammad

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