Saudi is undergoing regime change, this is not mere "keep you on your toes." Bin Salman (crown prince and de facto head of state) is purging disloyalists and apparent obstacles in his quest to globalize Saudi relations (aka distance from US and closer to China/Russia)
What evidence do yo uhave that they are trying to get closer to China/Russia? The one rumor I've heard is that the prince got word from US intelligence that there was chatter about a potential coup.
He's trying to silence dissent for the war in Lebanon against Iran, he's allying with Israel against it , which explains the clerics. He's forcing the princes like bin Taleb to give up their money (100 billion) for a war chest. Saudi Arabia is not a warlike country, this is stupid and retarded on so many levels.
1. Did the Kingdom receive the message that its "reign" is over and it would either have to be dragged into a modern post Wahhabi world or end in the stone ages and so it is abet reluctant decided to start marching into this direction?
2. Did the Kingdom decide that it was marching west-ward too much and put brakes on it.
Those seem like Western-centric questions that may have almost nothing to do with this. Bin Salman and Talal, for instance, both have strong Western financial ties.
Simple power consolidation is one obvious alternative explanation. The Qatar embargo, and overall fear of Iranian ascendancy, is another potential motivating factor.
