King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia Is Hospitalized With Pneumonia

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has pneumonia and needs temporary help from a breathing tube, the royal court said Friday.

The king, who is 90, has a history of medical problems, and his health is scrutinized for any hint of a leadership change in Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy and regional American ally that is one of the world’s most important oil producers.

In a statement quoted by news agencies, the royal court said the king was in stable condition at a military hospital. He was transferred there on Thursday after having been admitted to King Abdulaziz Medical City Hospital in Riyadh, the capital, on Wednesday for unspecified tests.

The statement said an examination “revealed pneumonia, which required the provisional insertion of a tube on Friday evening.”

It added that “that step was crowned with stability and success,” but it left unclear how long the king would remain hospitalized.

The new uncertainty about the king’s health came against a backdrop of deep Saudi influence on a number of major global issues.

The biggest is plunging oil prices, caused in part by Saudi insistence on maintaining current high production levels in an effort to drive out higher-cost producers elsewhere and gain more control over the global market.

Saudi officials, presumably acting under the king’s orders, have shown no inclination to curb production, despite complaints by others, including the country’s regional rival, Iran.

The king’s health difficulties also come as Saudi Arabia has exerted itself more forcefully in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq. Most notably, Saudi Arabia is actively participating in the American-led bombing campaign against extremists there.

Crown Prince Salman, 79, the king’s half brother and presumed successor, has increasingly acted as Abdullah’s representative, most recently standing in for him at a summit meeting of Persian Gulf countries in Qatar last month. Crown Prince Salman is also Saudi Arabia’s deputy prime minister and defense minister.

Another half brother of the king, Prince Muqrin, 69, is second in line to the throne.

Abdullah is the country’s sixth king, having assumed the throne in 2005.