CONFIDENTIAL
· SULTAN BIN ABDUL AZIZ
Born 1924 - second son of King Abdul Aziz by the lateHassa bint Sudairi,
Minister of Defence since 1962.
He has done a reasonably good job as Minister of Defence. Heproved himself a formidable bargainer in the negotiations connectedwith the joint Anglo-United States offer of an integrated air defencesystem. Subsequently became thoroughly disillusioned with the performance of the British companies participating in the scheme and asa result unambiguously hostile to British efforts to secure othermajor defence business. He has moderated his attitude since theAnglo-Saudi SADAP agreement of May 1973 for the continuation, lessthe ground environment (radar) system, of the project.
Very active in 1970 touring the main area commands. Hisreception at Dhahran in 1970 and again in 1972 suggested that he hassome popularity with the tribes (but as a senior surviving son ofAbdul Aziz and Hassa bint Sudairi such outward signs of respect areautomatic). He now leaves much of the routine work of the Ministryto Turki (qv) because of his preoccupation in higher councils.
He and his eldest full brother, Fahd (qv) were King Faisal'sright-hand men in public and are never out of the country together;when the latter is away Sultan normally presides over the Council ofMinisters and acts as Minister of the Interior and, in his absence,Fahd acts as Minister of Defence. Sultan normally accompaniedKing Faisal on all his State Visits abroad (he was made a GCMG onthe one to Britain in May 1967). It was said that he had the courageto speak his mind when he disagreed with King Faisal.
He was a charming and friendly host to Lord Carrington duringthe latter's official visit to Riyadh in April 1973.
His extensive travels as Minister have, since 1971, includedofficial visits to Egypt, Syria, France, Jordan and America. He alsohad official talks in London during an informal visit in 1972.
Speaks no English but understands some.
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