Saudi Arabia's Next King Is Going To Be A Millennial, So That's Going To Be Weird

That's right. The guy who's next in line to become the head of Saudi Arabia is in the same age demographic as Miley Cyrus and Mark Zuckerburg. He's taking the place of Prince Mohammad bin Nayef, his 57-year-old cousin, who got bumped from the spot and his role as the country's interior minister.

After the death of King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the country's founder and namesake, in 1953, the crown has passed hands among his sons. As a result, as the years have gone on, the kings of the country have gotten older and older and their reigns shorter and shorter. A desire to bump up the younger generation is seen as one of the key factors in King Salman's decision to raise his son to the Crown Princeship and demote Prince Mohammed bin Nayef.

The choice is especially huge in a country that has praised ~stability~ over everything. And while internal shake-ups are common in countries where a term can last a decade at most, something like this shifts how the country is going to be ruled for years upon years.

And really, is there anything more of a Privileged Millennial move than having an amazing job handed to you by your dad?

As if getting his title snatched by his nephew wasn't enough, Mohammed bin Nayef also lost his job as interior minister. Instead, the job went to...his oldest son, Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef. Damn. That's just cold.

Saudi Arabia is still an absolute monarchy, which means as the king orders, so it goes. With a potential decades-spanning kingship ahead of him, MBS could set the course of the country for generations to come.

The crown prince has retained his title of defense minister as well, which means he can keep running the show as regards Saudi Arabia's ongoing war in Yemen, which has killed hundreds of civilians through bombings and disease. Selfish millennials, amirite?

Somebody hook this guy up with a fidget spinner, is what I'm saying.

A large part of MBS's plans for Saudi Arabia have focused on two points: reducing the kingdom's economic dependence on its massive oil reserves, the largest in the word, and asserting itself more regionally. He and the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates were reportedly two of the key players in isolating Qatar during the recent diplomatic spat between Saudi Arabia's allies and its neighbor.

Iran, meanwhile, has been labeling MBS's ascension as a "soft coup" in local media. Other Arab countries have been more cautious in their coverage — except for the Saudi media, naturally, which was entirely supportive of this new development.