Background of the Qatar crisis
Qatar is a tiny monarchic kingdom which is a member of the Gulf cooperation council and an ally of the United States of America. Before the crisis, it was considered one of the most reliable partners of the Saudi-led coalition against terrorism, but cracks appeared in the relations between Saudi Arabia and Qatar when their views started diverging on several important regional issues.
The Saudi-Qatar rivalry ultimately led to the diplomatic boycott of Qatar by other Gulf countries like Dubai, Bahrain, and Egypt as well, transforming into the present situation known as Qatar crisis.
The Saudi-Qatar rivalry ultimately led to the diplomatic boycott of Qatar by other Gulf countries like Dubai, Bahrain, and Egypt as well, transforming into the present situation known as Qatar crisis.
Reasons for Qatar crisis
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| Emir of Qatar with King Salman |
The diplomatic fallout of the Gulf countries with Qatar is due to several reasons of which some of the most important are as follows:
First of all, the Qatari ruling family has been an open supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood even after the military takeover in Egypt. On the contrary, Saudi monarchy considered the movement of Muslim Brotherhood as an existential threat to their kingdom and provided Fateh Al Sissi with billions of dollar worth of aid.
Secondly, Qatar even though part of the Gulf cooperation council maintains good relations with Iran, which is unacceptable to King Salman and his energetic son, Muhammad bin Salman.
Thirdly, the Saudi-backed Government of Abu Mansoor Hadi in Yemen had leveled some serious allegations against Qatar of running a parallel government in some parts of Yemen, which Qatar denies.
Secondly, Qatar even though part of the Gulf cooperation council maintains good relations with Iran, which is unacceptable to King Salman and his energetic son, Muhammad bin Salman.
Thirdly, the Saudi-backed Government of Abu Mansoor Hadi in Yemen had leveled some serious allegations against Qatar of running a parallel government in some parts of Yemen, which Qatar denies.
United States’ reaction to the Qatar crisis
The United States of America has military bases in the whole of Gulf including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and thus both are considered close allies of US in the war on terror but serious reservations have recently begun to develop over Qatar’s support for Hamas in Palestine and Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
The lawmakers and establishment in the US are still hesitant to designate Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization because it has not resorted to violence even after the severe crackdown against them, however, the thinking has changed to some extent after Trump’s arrival to the presidency. Trump sees Muslim Brotherhood as an equal threat to the United States of America as other terrorist organizations, and thus anyone supporting the organization is considered a terrorist sponsor.
The lawmakers and establishment in the US are still hesitant to designate Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization because it has not resorted to violence even after the severe crackdown against them, however, the thinking has changed to some extent after Trump’s arrival to the presidency. Trump sees Muslim Brotherhood as an equal threat to the United States of America as other terrorist organizations, and thus anyone supporting the organization is considered a terrorist sponsor.
Donald Trump celebrated Qatar crisis with his controversial tweets by blaming Qatar for sponsoring extremism in the region, however, the same tweets proved to be a mere rant when America signed a deal of worth $12 billion dollars with Qatar, providing it with dozens of advanced F15 fighter jets.
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| Trump's tweets regarding Qatar Crisis |
Several high officials including Defense minister, James Mattis, from the Trump administration have advocated a neutral line to diffuse Qatar crisis in contrast to Trump who vowed to punish Qatar. These ups and downs in the American foreign policy have now become a trademark of the Trump administration.
Can America play the role of a mediator in the Qatar Crisis?
Definitely, the United States of America have high stakes in the region pertaining to its military bases in the region and especially in Qatar, its fight against IS and other extremists and its energy imports from the gulf countries. Being a superpower and with friendly relations with both the sides, it can perfectly act as a mediator in the Qatar crisis but it highly depends on the flexibility of both the sides towards any win-win solution.
So far, the Saudi-led coalition has shown little intent towards resolving the crisis and is hell-bent on forcing Qatar to follow its demands. The Qatar, on the other hand, is also stiff in its resistance to the demands despite economic losses. The extreme positions from both sides are averse to the efforts by the mutual friends to put an end to the Qatar crisis.
So far, the Saudi-led coalition has shown little intent towards resolving the crisis and is hell-bent on forcing Qatar to follow its demands. The Qatar, on the other hand, is also stiff in its resistance to the demands despite economic losses. The extreme positions from both sides are averse to the efforts by the mutual friends to put an end to the Qatar crisis.
About Muhammad Asim
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