The Saudi king named his half-brother Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz as the country’s new crown prince, placing him next in line to rule the oil-rich kingdom, in an expected move that is likely to ensure a smooth political transition amid political turmoil in the Mideast region.

The announcement by King Abdullah Abdulaziz al Saud , 88 years old, follows the death last week of Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz.

Prince Salman, who was the governor of Riyadh province from 1962 until he was appointed defense minister and deputy crown prince in November, has played an increasingly prominent role in Saudi politics in recent years. He is known to favor close political and economic ties with the West.

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