Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Yemen and Libya announced on Wednesday that they suspended diplomatic relations with Qatar. These countries have closed off their borders and airports to Qatar traffic, and Qatar citizens have been given two weeks to leave their countries. Qatari diplomats were given just 48 hours to pack up and go.
They accuse Qatar of supporting terrorist groups in the region. Qatar denies the allegations, and has asked for dialogue to resolve the dispute. According to reports, the Turkish president emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the region, encouraging all parties to focus on dialogue and diplomacy to reduce tension.
Emboldened by US backing, it seems that Saudi Arabia launched the campaign against Qatar. The consequences are enormous: Some 37 million passengers cross through Doha each year. Oil prices meanwhile have spiked and the Qatari stock exchange tanked on Monday.
On Feb. 15, The Wall Street Journal quoted unnamed Arab officials as saying that the Trump administration was in talks with Arab allies about forming a military alliance to share intelligence with Israel against Iran.
The US newspaper noted that the alliance consultations were underway with Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Wall Street Journal report also revealed that the Trump administration asked Egypt to host negotiations on an Arab military alliance and that the alliance would have a NATO-style mutual-defense component.
Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been funding armed groups in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere but with different goals. The Qatari government and its news outlet Al-Jazeera supported the Muslim Brotherhood government in Egypt as well as the current government of Turkey and the Taliban has their only diplomatic mission in Doha. This has irked the Saudis.
Qatari companies are increasingly investing in Turkey. Qatari investors’ interests in the country include energy, banking and real estate, according to The Peninsula, Qatar’s daily newspaper.
The second highest value of investments by any country in Turkey, comes from Qatar. And over the coming years, Qatar is expected to become number one investor in Turkey, said Muhammed bin Ahmed bin Towar Al Kuwari, Vice-Chairman of Qatar Chamber (QC).
A new defense agreement between Qatar and Turkey has also promised Turkish support in case Qatar is attacked. The Turkish military actually has a base in Qatar.
The current standoff between Qatar and other Arab countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council has been enabled by the Trump administration, says blogger Moon of Alabama: “Key principals within the Trump administration, such as Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and CIA Director Mike Pompeo, hold views on Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood that are virtually indistinguishable from those in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.”
US support for Saudi Arabia have exacerbated the divides within the Gulf Cooperation Council and will hinder future defense envisioned operations. Al-Udeid in Qatar is the largest US airbase in the Middle East as well as the forward headquarter of the US Central Command fighting ISIS. The current standoff will hinder American efforts in the region.
