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Royal road ahead: Saudi prince leaves G20 confident, turning corner after Khashoggi scandal

  • World appears to be moving forward following shocking murder of journalist and Mohammed bin Salman appears happy to join them

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Part of the ‘family photo’ featuring world leaders including Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on November 30, 2018. Photo: EPA
THERE WAS A high-five from Vladimir Putin. And for Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi it was business as usual.
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At home, Saudi Arabia’s media trumpeted Mohammed bin Salman’s meetings with world leaders, tweeting pictures of his encounters, which also included the presidents of South Korea, Mexico, and South Africa.

However, Western leaders appeared to avoid the crown prince during the family photo at the Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires – after almost two months of global outrage at the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The only Arab leader there, the prince stood rather isolated at the end of the line, at times looking uncertain and nervous.

Mohammed waiting for the family photo at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires on November 30, 2018. Photo: Reuters
Mohammed waiting for the family photo at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires on November 30, 2018. Photo: Reuters
US President Donald Trump, Prince Mohammed’s most vocal backer, did not have time for a one-on-one meeting.
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Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri kept the prince hanging on when it came to finding time to talk.

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