Qatar, alleged for funding terrorism resulting in one of the greatest diplomatic strikes the world has seen, is still facing consequences as the countries initiating the ban begin to ‘antagonize’ the country. United Arab Emirates’ Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi released a statement declaring that empathizing..
Qatar, alleged for funding terrorism resulting in one of the greatest diplomatic strikes the world has seen, is still facing consequences as the countries initiating the ban begin to ‘antagonize’ the country. United Arab Emirates’ Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi released a statement declaring that empathizing with Qataris on social media was a ‘crime punishable by law’. Kuwait, on the other hand tried to initiate efforts to mediate in the gulf region to end the blockade.
Who’s coming to Qatar’s Rescue?
Kuwait’s Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah flew to Qatar to meet Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to work on how relations could be restored in the region. Turkey and Iran have also come to Qatar’s rescue in this crisis wherein the countries provided food supplies to Qatar while also allowing it to use their airspace for flight travel.
U.S President, Donald Trump also tried to mend the broken ties by calling the emir of Qatar and offering to help with the situation, by calling for a meeting among the concerned states, at the White House if necessary.
Is the Gulf all aligned?
Saudi Arabia has urged Qatar to stop financing terrorism to Palestinian groups like Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, only on doing so would relations be restored. Qatar is host to America’s largest airbase (US Central Command), Turkey also set up a military base in the region in 2014, to which it recently allowed for a deployment of troops. This move was seen as support for the isolated country, to which some experts view as essential if strong ties were to be maintained during this period, as it brings assurance to Qatar.
The other deal that was brought in between Turkey and Qatar, allowed for an accord on military cooperation. The deals were however, initiated even before the diplomatic standoff.
All Grey for Safety
Qatar has been perceived a rather weaker ally in the region as it fails to isolate Iran and Turkey on having maintained trade links with the world’s largest LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) producer and Turkey is taking measures to assert itself, rather carefully. It is believed that in regional affairs, both Qatar and Turkey adopt rather similar policy approaches towards Iran.
Although Turkey has been a close ally to Qatar and it does not support the Saudi-led isolationist policy towards Qatar. It is however, important not to conclude that a country would take sides as consequences are equally taxing on the foreign policy front. Turkey continues to maintain ties with most of the gulf countries. Considering the integrative markets that have woven together our globalized world, no one country could afford to pick sides, especially not at a regional level.
Leave a Reply