Naimi survives major Saudi reshuffle: Update

Adds details on reshuffle throughout

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdel-Aziz today decreed major changes to the succession, reshuffled the cabinet and appointed Saudi Aramco chief executive Khalid al-Falih as minister of health.

Oil minister Ali Naimi kept his post but was replaced by al-Falih as chairman of Aramco. Al-Falih's elevation to a ministerial post, albeit outside the oil industry, and his assumption of the Aramco chairmanship signals he is on a likely track to becoming Saudi Arabia's next oil minister, particularly since the king has not replaced him as Aramco's chief executive.

Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman, the king's son who was promoted to deputy oil minister with a rank of minister when his father became king on 23 January, is also considered a possible contender for the post of oil minister once Naimi retires.

Naimi, who is 79, has served as oil minister since 1995. He has been the architect of Riyadh's latest policy to avoid cutting output despite the fall in oil prices over the past 10 months, opting instead to defend market share and allow the market to rebalance itself.

The major change to Saudi Arabia's power structure today is the replacement as crown prince of Miqrin bin Abdel-Aziz, the king's half-brother and named successor, by Prince Mohammad bin Nayef. Prince Mohammad, who is 55, has now been elevated to crown prince from deputy crown prince. He already held the positions of minister of interior and deputy prime minister. In the latter post, he can chair cabinet meetings on behalf of the king. As crown prince, he will be acting head of state if the elderly king is abroad or indisposed.

Another significant change is the elevation of the king's own son, defence minister Mohammad bin Salman, who is thought to be in his early thirties, to the post of deputy crown prince, which means he is second in the line of succession to the throne.

The royal decree appointing Mohammad bin Salman praises his abilities and says the majority of members of the Allegiance Council, comprising princes representing all branches of the ruling family, approved his appointment. The young defence minister has been in charge of overseeing Saudi Arabia's military campaign in Yemen.

The king's decree appointing Mohammad bin Salman mentions the need to guarantee the smooth flow and continuity of the succession, thus making it clear that the king expects Mohammad bin Salman to succeed Mohammad bin Nayef as king. The move completes and cements the transfer of power to the third generation of the Al Saud ruling family, removing the uncertainty that had surrounded the succession. It also secures the continuation of King Salman's own line in the succession.

Another major change is the replacement as foreign minister of prince Saud al-Faisal, who has held that position since 1975, by Adel Jubair, Riyadh's ambassador to the US. He is the first commoner to be appointed as Saudi Arabia's foreign minister. Saud al-Faisal becomes an advisor in charge of overseeing foreign policy and retains a cabinet post.

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