The New York Times reports that Prince Salman bin Abdul-Aziz al-Saud, Saudi Arabia’s current defense minister, has been appointed the nation’s newest crown prince. The appointment comes after the death of former Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud on Saturday.
Salman, 76, is now heir apparent to his half-brother King Abdullah, the nation’s 89-year-old sovereign. Analysts says that Salman is likely to continue Saudi Arabia’s policies and alliances with Western and Sunni Muslim states.