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| Prince Bandar bin Sultan | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bandar bin Sultan |
| Native name | بندر بن سلطان بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود |
| Birth date | 2 March 1949 |
| Birth place | Taif, Saudi Arabia |
| Occupation | Diplomat, politician |
| Offices | Saudi Ambassador to the United States (1983–2005); Director General, Saudi Intelligence Agency (2012–2014) |
| Parents | Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Hassa bint Mohammed |
| Spouse | Haifa bint Faisal |
Prince Bandar bin Sultan
Prince Bandar bin Sultan (born 2 March 1949) is a Saudi royal, diplomat, and former intelligence chief known for his long tenure as Saudi Ambassador to the United States and his role in regional diplomacy. He has been a central figure in Saudi foreign relations, engaging with international leaders, U.S. administrations, and multilateral institutions across the Middle East, Europe, and North America. His career spans interactions with organizations and events such as the United States Department of State, the Central Intelligence Agency, the United Nations, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and multiple U.S. presidential administrations.
Bandar was born in Taif into the House of Saud, son of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz and Hassa bint Mohammed. He attended school in Riyadh and pursued studies in the United Kingdom and the United States, including programs associated with Georgetown University, Syracuse University, and military training linked to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and institutions in France and Italy. His upbringing placed him among peers from other royal families such as members of the Al Sabah family of Kuwait and the Al Nahyan family of Abu Dhabi, shaping networks across the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Bandar entered Saudi service in the 1970s, serving in posts that connected to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Saudi Arabia), the Saudi mission to the United Kingdom, and bilateral ties with nations including France, Germany, and Canada. He participated in negotiations and summits such as meetings of the Gulf Cooperation Council and dialogues involving the European Union and NATO partners. Bandar cultivated relationships with international figures like Margaret Thatcher, François Mitterrand, Helmut Kohl, and U.S. secretaries including George P. Shultz and James Baker.
Serving from 1983 to 2005, Bandar became a prominent interlocutor between Riyadh and successive U.S. administrations: Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. He engaged with institutions such as the White House, the United States Congress, and think tanks including the Brookings Institution and the Council on Foreign Relations. Bandar facilitated arms agreements with companies like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman and negotiated security cooperation tied to bases alongside discussions at the Pentagon and with officials from the Department of Defense (United States). His ambassadorship overlapped with crises and initiatives such as the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War, the Oslo Accords, and the post-2001 Global War on Terrorism.
Bandar served as Director General of the General Intelligence Directorate (Saudi Arabia) from 2012 to 2014, coordinating with agencies including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), and regional services such as the Mossad. His tenure involved responses to the Syrian Civil War, the rise of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and regional security dialogues with Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Bandar participated in shuttle diplomacy and covert coordination reported between Saudi Arabia, the United States, and allies during interventions in Lebanon and operations related to Yemen and Bahrain.
Members of the House of Saud frequently have diverse holdings; Bandar engaged with business entities and financiers in Riyadh, Jeddah, and international markets in London and New York City. He had associations with investment vehicles and trading firms that interfaced with banks such as HSBC, Citigroup, and Goldman Sachs, and he interacted with global oil and energy corporations including Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, and BP in contexts of bilateral investment and energy diplomacy. Reported property and portfolio holdings connected him to real estate in Washington, D.C., luxury ventures tied to brands operating in Monte Carlo and Geneva, and partnerships with private equity firms in Dubai and Doha.
Bandar is married to Haifa bint Faisal, daughter of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, linking him to dynastic lines including siblings in the Sudairi Seven branch. The couple has nine children who have pursued education and careers spanning diplomacy, business, and public service, with connections to institutions like King Saud University, Harvard University, and Oxford University. Family relations include ties to high-ranking royals such as King Salman and figures in Saudi governance like former Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and current Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman through the wider Al Saud network.
Bandar's career attracted scrutiny over subjects involving the 9/11 investigations, alleged private influence in arms deals, and reported roles in regional proxy conflicts. His name appeared in discussions involving the 9/11 Commission Report and litigation in U.S. federal courts, and he was referenced in media accounts alongside entities such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian. Critics pointed to alleged ties with financiers linked to networks in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 1980s and 1990s, and to diplomatic positions during events like the Assad regime crisis and Saudi policy toward Iran. Supporters emphasize his role in sustaining U.S.–Saudi relations through administrations and crises involving the Gulf War and counterterrorism cooperation.
Category:House of Saud Category:Saudi Arabian diplomats Category:Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia to the United States