Geopolitics and Investment: Khashoggi Incident Sparks SoftBank Investment Controversy

Following the revelation of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018, global financial and technology sectors intensified their ethical scrutiny of the Saudi Arabian government and its key investment vehicle—the main backer of the SoftBank Vision Fund.

This event forced many global investment firms, world-renowned financial consortiums, and tech leaders to reassess their business relationships with Saudi Arabia. Although the SoftBank Vision Fund continued operating, the incident exposed the increasingly complex linkage between global investment in future industries and geopolitical risks, as well as human rights issues.