DM Monitoring
CAIRO: Isolated for over three years, Qatar is now seeing a chance to shake hands again with its former four Arab friends, which jointly cut ties with the small but wealthy Gulf state in 2017.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt have imposed a diplomatic and economic blockade on Qatar since June 2017, accusing the gas-rich state of supporting terrorism and extremism, as well as interfering in their domestic affairs. Qatar has repeatedly denied the charges.
However, the signs of a thaw emerged recently after the multipartite efforts, made especially by Kuwait and the United States, to end the Gulf crisis and restore Arab unity in order to confront Iran. The parties involved are now optimistic about finalizing a deal soon to end the rifts between Qatar and the Saudi-led quartet.
Since the crisis erupted in June 2017, Kuwait has been actively mediating among the parties in a bid to break the ice. But no apparent progress had been made until last week. On Dec. 4, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah first revealed that “fruitful” talks on ending the Gulf crisis had been held, in which “all parties affirmed their keenness on Gulf and Arab solidarity and stability.” Quickly, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud hailed the efforts of Kuwait and the United States to resolve the Gulf crisis.
In an interview on the sidelines of a security conference held in Bahrain, he said that it was “very positive” that a final agreement would be reached by the two sides soon. The final deal will cover all aspects and be satisfactory to all the parties involved, he added. For his part, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani also lauded Kuwait’s efforts to seek unity of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
In a phone call with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Qatari emir thanked him for the continuous efforts to facilitate GCC unity. Egypt also praised Kuwait’s efforts, while calling for a comprehensive solution to the years-long crisis.
Meanwhile, other regional countries and organizations, including Lebanon, Morocco and Libya, as well as the Cairo-based Arab League voiced support to the efforts to end the Gulf crisis soon. Analysts believe that the recent thaw in the Gulf crisis came as result of the push by the US administration led by President Donald Trump and the raging COVID-19 pandemic, besides Kuwait’s mediation.
