Saudi Arabia feels that its position in the Gulf and the world is being threatened by changing regional aims and alliances, in particular in Iran and Egypt. Its rulers, being old, are not coping well with radical change.

Since Mubarak’s overthrow in 2011, further protests and military intervention have removed an elected government and brought chaos. Egypt urgently needs a pact between its divided political players and reform of its institutions.

Narendra Modi’s reputation rests on what he claims to have made of Gujarat, where he is chief minister. He doesn’t much mention the state’s worsening inequality, poverty, environmental degradation, caste exploitation and religious segregation.