Source: Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler to skip G20 summit

Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will not attend the upcoming G20 summit in Brazil, a well-informed Saudi source told dpa, though no explanation was provided.

However, the heir apparent is set to attend an annual Gulf summit in Kuwait on December 1 and will host French President Emmanuel Macron, who is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia starting December 2, the source added, requesting anonymity.

The source also declined to address reports that the 39-year-old royal is dealing with an ear issue, which could be aggravated by the long-haul flight to Brazil. There was no immediate official comment from Riyadh.

The summit of the leading economic powers in Rio de Janeiro will focus on key issues including poverty alleviation, reforms of global institutions, climate protection, and the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, is the sole Arab representative in the G20 bloc.