| Qatar–Saudi Arabia diplomatic conflict | |||||||
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| Part of theArab Spring,Arab Winter, and theIran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict | |||||||
 Qatar (center) Countries which have cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar during the Qatar diplomatic crisis Countries which reduced diplomatic ties with or recalled ambassadors from Qatar during Qatar diplomatic crisis | |||||||
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| Main parties post-Arab Spring | |||||||
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani |  Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud | ||||||
Notes:
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TheQatar–Saudi Arabia diplomatic conflict refers to the temporary struggle for regional influence betweenQatar and theKingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), both of which are members of theGulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It is sometimes called theNew Arab Cold War.[8][9][10]Bilateral relations have been especially strained since the beginning of theArab Spring,[11] that left a power vacuum both states sought to fill, with Qatar being supportive of therevolutionary wave and Saudi Arabia opposing it. Both states are allies of theUnited States, and have avoided direct conflict with one another.[12]
Qatar has differences with the Saudi bloc on a number of issues: it broadcastsAl Jazeera, that widely reported the Arab Spring; it maintains relatively good relations withIran, Saudi Arabia's key rival; and it has supported theMuslim Brotherhood in the past.[13] Saudi Arabia frames the conflict with Qatar as a subset of theIran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict due to Saudi Arabia's longstanding concern about the country's relationship with Iran and Iranian-backed militant groups.[14] However, Qatar maintains the conflict is an attempt for Saudi Arabia to reassert the hegemony over Qatar it enjoyed during the 20th century.[citation needed]
TheTunisian Revolution of January 2011[15] ousted longtime presidentZine El Abidine Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia after being denied asylum in France. Widespread Al Jazeera coverage of theBahraini uprising of 2011 fueled Saudi suspicions the Qatari government sought to overthrow the Saudi government viasoft power. The Saudis then supported a largely successful counterrevolution to the Arab Spring to preserve the monarchy ofBahrain, overthrow the Egyptian democratically elected presidentMohammad Morsi and stymie international support for the post-Gaddafi government in Libya. Since the2013 Egyptian coup d'état byAbdel Fattah el-Sisi, there has been a consistent pattern of Saudi Arabia, theUnited Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt opposing the designs of Qatar andTurkey, who supporteddemocratic Islamist andSalafi extremist groups, particularly in theSyrian civil war.
Both Saudi Arabia and Qatar mediated through the GCC during theYemeni Revolution against PresidentAli Abdullah Saleh, although Qatar was considered more pro-revolution and KSA more pro-Saleh. Both rivals also backed the overthrow ofSyrian presidentBashar al-Assad, a key ally of Iran and theLebaneseHezbollah.Qatari involvement in the Syrian Civil War was initially far greater in 2013 thanSaudi involvement, and their backing of rival revolutionary groups benefited the incumbent government ofBashar al-Assad and what would become theIslamic State of Iraq and Syria.[16][17] In 2014, the two countries backed rival sides in theSecond Libyan Civil War, which continues to intensify, and they had even temporarily severed diplomatic relations with each other. WhenSalman of Saudi Arabia ascended to the throne in 2015, the two began to cooperate more in Syria and foughtHouthi militias in theYemeni civil war.[13] Saudi-Qatari relations were seen near a high point when Qatar severed ties with Iran by recalling its ambassador from Tehran in response to the attacks on Saudi embassy there following the2016 Saudi execution ofNimr al-Nimr.[18]
In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, theMaldives, Mauritania, Senegal, Djibouti, the Comoros, Jordan, the Tobruk-based Libyan government and finally theHadi-led Yemeni governmentsevered diplomatic relations with Qatar and blocked Qatar'sairspace and sea routes along with Saudi Arabia blocking the only land crossing over its relations with Iran,Al-Jazeera reporting negative information about other GCC states and Egypt and the country's allegedsupport of Islamist groups.[19][20] Qatar was also expelled from the anti-Houthi coalition.[21] Qatar's defense ministerKhalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah called the blockade akin to a bloodless declaration of war, and Qatar's finance ministerAli Sharif Al Emadi stated that Qatar is rich enough to withstand the blockade.[22][23] On 24 August 2017, Qatar announced that they would restore full diplomatic relations with Iran.[18] As the diplomatic standoff reached its second year, Saudi Arabia announced it would build a canal. Subsequently, this could turn Qatar into an island.[24]
As of June 2024 Saudi Arabia has welcomed the resumption of diplomatic representation between the UAE and Qatar, reflecting continued efforts to stabilize and enhance inter-GCC relations.[25]
Since he took power in 1995,Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani believed Qatar could find security only by transforming itself from a Saudi appendage to a rival of Saudi Arabia.[26] According to Jim Krane, energy research fellow atRice University's Baker Institute, "Qatar used to be a kind of Saudivassal state, but it used the autonomy that its gas wealth created to carve out an independent role for itself... Above all, gas prompted Qatar to promote a regional policy of engagement with Shiite Iran to secure the source of its wealth".[27] Qatar and Iran share ownership of theSouth Pars/North Dome Gas-Condensate field,[28] by far the world's largestnatural gas field, with significantgeostrategic influence.[29] To further offset Saudi influence, Qatar isa close ally of the United States, hosting the largest American base in the Middle East,Al Udeid Air Base.[30] Saudi Arabia withdrew its ambassador to Doha from 2002 to 2008 to try to pressure Qatar to curb its individualistic tendencies. This approach broadly failed.[31]
Qatar maintains relatively good relations with Iran. Saudi Arabia often frames the issue as aproxy battle between partners and adversaries of Iran.[32]United Arab Emirates politicians claim that "Qatar invests billions of dollars in the U.S. and Europe and then recycles the profits to support Iranian-alignedHamas, the Muslim Brotherhood and groups linked to al Qaeda. While Qatar hosts the American military base from which the U.S. directs its regional war against extremism, it also owns media networks responsible for inciting many of the same extremists".[33] Qatar also used its contacts to help negotiate peaceful exchanges of hostages for the safe evacuation of civilians from areas affected by theSyrian Civil War.[13] In 2006, Qatar was the onlyUN Security Council member to vote againstUnited Nations Security Council Resolution 1696 that called on Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment program.[34]
In April 2017, after a 12-year freeze, Qatar lifted a self-imposed ban on developing the gas field with Iran,[35] that would require cooperation between the two countries.[36] According to David Roberts, a Qatar foreign policy expert at King's College, London, if a conflict erupts between America and Iran, Qatar would literally be caught in the middle. "If you are Qatar, you look across the water and you think, when Iran did have the opportunity to take a few Arab islands, they did it." "Qatar needs to have the ability to peacefully go about their business of sucking all the gas out of that giant field." Iran could make that process very difficult.[37] A senior fellow of Middle Eastern studies at theCouncil on Foreign Relations concludes that "There's a recognition of the general tendencies of the Gulf states to hedge their bets,"There's always a question in the back of the minds of the leadership--how much faith can they put in the U.S.?"[37]
On 27 May 2017, the newly reelectedIranian PresidentHassan Rouhani held a phone call with Qatar's EmirTamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Rouhani told Qatar's emir, "The countries of the region need more cooperation and consultations to resolve the crisis in the region and we are ready to cooperate in this field."[38]
The QatariAl-Jazeera is a media organization owned by theGovernment of Qatar. It is the most popular network in the Middle East, and its news network has criticized principal foreign governments involved in triggering the dispute and been accused of supporting Qatari interests. The Saudi-led coalition against Qatar has demanded that Al-Jazeera be shut down.[39]
Qatar has beenaccused of sponsoring terrorism.[40] Some countries have faulted Qatar for funding rebel groups in Syria, includingal-Qaeda's affiliate inSyria, theal-Nusra Front,[41] although the Saudis have done the same.[13][42] Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been involved in theCIA–ledTimber Sycamore covert operation to train and armSyrian rebels.[43][44]
Qatar has hosted officials from the AfghanTaliban[45] and Hamas. Qatar defends this move by saying it is trying to act as an intermediary in regional conflicts by hosting talks between the Taliban and the US-backed Afghan government in 2016.[46]
On 13 July 2017,Bob Corker, a Republican senator and the chairman of theUS Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, stated that the "[t]he amount of support for terrorism by Saudi Arabia dwarfs what Qatar is doing".[47] FormerUS Defense Secretary and ex-CIA chiefRobert Gates stated in May 2017 that he does not "know instances in which Qatar aggressively goes after (terror finance) networks of Hamas, Taliban, Al-Qaeda,"[48] and that "My attitudes toward Al-Udeid and any other facility is that the United States military doesn't have any irreplaceable facility."[49] Qatar hosts the largest American base in the Middle East, theAl Udeid Air Base, which has been used by the United States in its campaigns in Iraq,Syria andAfghanistan.[30][50] According to the WSJ, during President Barack Obama's first term, some members of his National Security Council lobbied to pull a U.S. fighter jet squadron out of Al Udeid to protest Qatari support of militant groups in the Middle East.[51]
In 2002, Saudi Arabia removed their ambassador from Qatar over Al Jazeera's alleged critical stance towards Saudi Arabia. Diplomatic relations were re-established in 2008, after assurances that Al Jazeera would limit its coverage of Saudi Arabia.[52]
During a March 2014 meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, after which theUnited Arab Emirates,Saudi Arabia andBahrain announced the recall of their ambassadors to Qatar,[53][54][55] citing interference with their internal affairs. The situation was eventually defused after Qatar forced Brotherhood members to leave the country eight months later.[56][13][57]
Some economists have interpreted the 2014 Saudi–Qatari rift as the tangible political sign of a growing economic rivalry between oil and natural gas producers, which could "have deep and long-lasting consequences" beyond theMiddle East-North Africa area.[58]
In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt,Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Sudan, Senegal, Djibouti, Comoros, Jordan, the Tobruk-based Libyan government and theHadi-led Yemeni governmentsevered diplomatic relations with Qatar and blocked Qatar'sairspace and sea routes along with Saudi Arabia blocking the only land crossing over its relations with Iran,Al-Jazeera reporting negative information about other GCC states and Egypt and the country's allegedsupport of Islamist groups.[19][20] Qatar was also expelled from the anti-Houthi coalition.[21] Qatar's defense minister Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah called the blockade akin to a bloodless declaration of war and Qatar's finance ministerAli Sharif Al Emadi stated that Qatar is rich enough to withstand the blockade.[22][23]
The Saudi coalition withdrawingdiplomatic relations accuseQatar of supporting terrorism, of interfering with theirinternal affairs[59] and of maintainingrelations with Iran.[60][61] Qatar denies allegations that it supported terrorism, and pointed out that it has been contributing to theU.S.-led fight against ISIL.[62][63] The countries have also stressed the measures are in response to Qatar's violation of an agreement[64] in 2014 to not undermine the "interests, security and stability" of otherGulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.[65]
The diplomatic crisis came after a speech in May given by EmirTamim bin Hamad Al Thani in which he was alleged to have declared support for Iran,Hamas, and theMuslim Brotherhood, along with calling Iran an "Islamic power" and criticizing Donald Trump's hostile stance toward it.[66] Qatar denied the allegations and claimed that hackers had posted fabricated statements on the state-runQatar News Agency's website.[67] US investigators believe the news agency was breached by Russian hackers as part of an ongoingfake news campaign designed to cause diplomatic rifts among the United States and its allies in the region. The Kremlin denied involvement, and the government of Qatar claimed the hack instead originated in the boycotting Gulf states not Russia after tracking suspicious cellphone signals.[68][69][70][71] Qatar is planning to sue countries involved in the blockade.[72] The sudden economic isolation forced Qatar to turn toTurkey and Iran for food and water supplies.[73][74] Iran offered to use three of its ports for delivering supplies to Qatar.[75]
Arab media claimed that Qatar has secretly accepted to become part of an Iranian Shia sphere of influence that Tehran is trying to create in the Middle East, and which would include Lebanon (Hezbollah), Syria (Assad), and Iraq (Shia-majority government)[76] and that, in a phone conversation with Iranian PresidentHassan Rouhani, Emir Al Thani said he wanted the ties with Iran to be "stronger than ever before."[77] Qatar claims Iranian-backed Hezbollah is aresistance movement against Israeli occupation, not a terrorist group.[78] Arab media also claimed that a member of Qatar's rulingHouse of Thani, SheikhAbdullah bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al Ahmed Al Thani, tweeted that Qatar's ruler Tamim has "joined forces with Iran against your brothers and set up terrorist groups and published electronic battalions to beat your opponents."[79] Saudi media also alleged that IranRevolutionary Guards are protecting Qatar's ruler Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani inside his palace.[80]
The Saudi-led bloc of states issued prerequisites to be met by Qatar before restoring diplomatic relations and lifting the blockade. The thirteen demands stipulated that the country must cut relations, military, and intelligence cooperation with Iran, comply with the US and international trade sanctions on Iran, immediately shut down a Turkish military base, and halt military cooperation with Turkey. It was also demanded that Qatar cut any existing ties with all "terrorist, sectarian and ideological organizations" such as ISIL, the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Al-Nusra Front, and Hezbollah, and must concur with any group's addition to the list of terrorist organizations as defined by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt.[81] Other demands were more punitive, requiring reparations and compensation for loss of life and other financial losses caused by Qatar's policies in recent years, the closure of state-funded media outlets likeAl Jazeera, Arabi21,Rassd,Al-Araby Al-Jadeed,Mekameleen, and theMiddle East Eye.[82]
The bloc sought a guarantee that Qatar will in the future align in all matters with other Gulf states, discuss all its decisions with them, and provide regular reports on its activity (monthly for the first year, quarterly for the second and annual for the following ten years). They also demanded deportation of all political refugees who live in Qatar to their countries of origin, freezing their assets, providing any desired information about their residency, movements and finances, revoking their Qatari citizenship if naturalized, and forbade Qatar from granting citizenship to any more fugitives.[83][84]
Upon rejection of demands by Qatar, the countries involved announced that the blockade would remain in place until Qatar changes its policies.[85][86]
On 5 January 2021, theEmir of QatarSheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited the city ofAl-Ula inSaudi Arabia for theGulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit. Saudi, along with theUnited Arab Emirates,Bahrain andEgypt, signed an agreement to restore full diplomatic relations with Qatar, and to end the three and a half years of blockade. The resolution was brokered byKuwait and theUS.[87]
Initially, only Saudi agreed to reopen its airspace and maritime borders with Qatar, commencing the process of reconciliation.[88] However, the UAE joined in later and announced to open all of its land, sea and air borders, allowing travel and trade with Qatar.[89]
On 16 January 2021, the Foreign Minister of Saudi ArabiaFaisal bin Farhan announced that his country will be re-opening their embassy in Qatar, as part of the Al-Ula deal of reconciliation.[90]
On 8 December 2021, Saudi Arabia's Crown PrinceMohammed bin Salman arrived in Doha on his first visit since Saudi Arabia and several other Arab allies imposed an embargo on Qatar in mid-2017. Prince Mohammed was received on arrival by emirSheikh Tamim bin Hamed al-Thani.[91]
Qatar has supported theMuslim Brotherhood in the past.[57]
Qatar supported the successful ouster of PresidentHosni Mubarak in February 2011, which was a landmark moment for Al Jazeera. Qatari-backedMuslim Brotherhood-affiliated candidateMohamed Morsibecame Egypt's first democratically elected president in 2012, only to be overthrown the next year by a Saudi-supportedmilitary coup led byAbdel Fattah el-Sisi, after widespread protests against his rule.
Since the coup, Saudi Arabia sees the Muslim Brotherhood as a threat, as it ideologically opposes thehereditary rule ofAl Saud.[57] Thegovernment of Egypt has long viewed the Muslim Brotherhood as "enemy number one".[92] In 2011, during theArab Spring, Qatar supported the Egyptian protestersagitating for change, as well as the Muslim Brotherhood.[93] By contrast, Saudi Arabia supportedHosni Mubarak and currently supportsAbdel Fattah el-Sisi[94]
In February 2015,Egypt–Qatar relations deteriorated after theEgyptian Air Forceconducted airstrikes on suspectedISIL positions in neighboring Libyafollowing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians.[95][96] The airstrikes were condemned byAl Jazeera, who broadcast images of civilian casualties.[96] Additionally, Qatar'sforeign ministry expressed reservations over theairstrikes. This prompted Tariq Adel, Egypt'sArab League delegate, to accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism. Egyptian citizens also launched an online campaign denouncing the Qatari government.[97] TheGulf Cooperation Council rejected Egypt's accusations and its secretary general regarded the statements to be false.[98] Shortly after, Qatar recalled its ambassador to Egypt for "consultations".[97]
Qatar was initially the main backer ofprotests against PresidentBashar al-Assad, alongsideTurkey. As the Syrian government met protests with deadly force, Qatar continued to be the main supporter of the resulting armed rebellion and eventualfull-scale civil war. Saudi Arabia was initially reluctant to support the overthrow of the Assad government, despite its reliance on Iran. WhenQatar andTurkey became increasingly influential in Syria, Saudi Arabia joined the conflict to overthrow Assad as hebecame more dependent on Iran andRussia to cling to power.[citation needed]
DuringSyrian Civil War, both Qatar and Saudi Arabia have supported many Syrian opposition rebel organisations, but also sometimes the same groups. The main Qatari-supported group was theAl Nusra Front; links were made to the group viaAbu Maria al-Qahtani who actively sought Qatari support and later Turkish support to split the group from al-Qaeda as well as to fightISIL,[99][100] opposing major Saudi-backed groupsIslamic Front /SIF andJaysh al-Islam. The division benefited not only Assad,Russia, and Iran, but also what became theIslamic State in 2014. In 2015, increased Saudi-Qatari coordination upon Salman's ascension to the throne led to the creation of theArmy of Conquest. This Army captured theIdlib Governorate from the Assad government, which nearly collapsed untilRussian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War later that year.[citation needed]
Saudi Arabia later joined the UAE in supporting theSyrian Democratic Forces, which has clashed with Qatar's ally Turkey in northern Syria.[101][102]
On 9 November 2018, After Qatari Prime MinisterMohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani visited Iraq and Iraqi government officials and proposed the creation of a new coalition to counter the GCC's influence in the region consisting ofIraq, Iran, Syria, andTurkey as well as Qatar.[103]
Since November 2018, Saudi Arabia and Syria were negotiating a political reaprochement, with theUnited Arab Emirates,Egypt andJordan as an intermediaries.[104] The talks included potential future cooperation against theMuslim Brotherhood in the region.[105][106] Since 2021, regular meetings between the heads of intelligence services were held.[107] On 23 March 2023, Saudi Arabia and Syria began discussing restoration of diplomatic relations.[108] On 13 April 2023, Syrian Foreign MinisterFaisal Mekdad arrived inJeddah to meet Saudi Foreign MinisterFaisal bin Farhan Al Saud. After frayed relations during the Syrian civil war, both nations now seek "a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity, security and stability of Syria,” according to the Saudi foreign ministry.[109] As of 2023, Qatar supports theHayat Tahrir al-Sham and other Islamist groups, while Saudi Arabia supports the Syrian government.
Leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed following2011 revolution that saw a Qatari and other military intervention on the side of the revolutionaryNational Transitional Council. Since thecivil war escalated in 2014, the Saudi bloc and Qatar have supported rival factions in Libya.[110] Qatar supports the Internationally recognized government ofGovernment of National Accord, while Saudi Arabia supports theTobruk-based government ofHouse of Representatives.
Qatar has generally supportedHamas, while Saudi Arabia used to support many Palestinian political organizations, including Hamas and thePalestine Liberation Organization (PLO)/Fatah. However, after Hamas won the2006 Palestinian legislative election, the level of funding from Saudi Arabia dropped, while the level of funding from Iran increased. Turkey and Qatar are now Hamas's biggest supporters. Up until 2011, the beginning of theArab Spring, Iran and Syria were Hamas's biggest supporters.[citation needed]
From 2016 onwards, Palestinian PresidentMahmoud Abbas has courted Qatar and Turkey in order to ward off a potential challenge to his leadership byMohammed Dahlan, who is supported by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt.[111][112]
In 2015,Salman of Saudi Arabia ascends to the throne andHouthis take over the capital, leading to a civil war met bySaudi intervention to support the post-Saleh national unity government led byAbdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. Qatar supported this KSA-led coalition until it was expelled from it during the2017–18 Qatar diplomatic crisis. Pro-Saudi sources claim that Qatar was also supporting theHouthis government, with financial aid and intelligence aid.[113][114][115][116][117][118]
In 2007, Qatar assumed a mediating position with the aim of facilitating dialogue and potentially orchestrating a peace agreement between the government of Yemen and the Houthi insurgents, a group adhering to Zaidi Shia Islam and based in the Saada Governorate in the north. This intervention by Qatar was notable for being among the earliest significant external endeavors to mediate the ongoing conflict.[119]
Turkey has emerged as a major supporter for Qatar in the conflict. The Turkish government underRecep Tayyip Erdoğan had deployed troops to assist Qatar deterring Saudi Arabia, as well as food aid.[120] There has been skepticism about the relations between two countries, in particular.[121]
WhileJordan has some sporadic tensions with Qatar with regard to Al Jazeera, Jordan refused to cut ties completely with Qatar, as the country is dependent on aid from the Gulf nations to function the economy.[122] Public pressure inside also forced Jordan to decide its decision carefully. In 2019, Jordan restored relations with Qatar.[123][124] Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia are major financiers for Jordan, and the Jordanian authorities have long been afraid such tensions could provide more opportunities for Iran to destabilize the region.[125]
Egypt supports Saudi Arabia and has cut off official ties with Qatar since 2017, in light of Qatar's accused support forMuslim Brotherhood, and has remained unchanged over the issues.[126]
Iran has been one of the major supporters for Qatar, though its support is limited. Iran has unofficially supported some of Qatar's policies while Qatar restored ties with Iran.[127]
Kuwait, a similar Gulf country with Qatar and Saudi Arabia, maintained diplomatic relations with both countries and offered to be a mediator in the conflict. However, there has been skepticism over Kuwait's role on mediating the disputes, mainly due to Saudi pressure to cut ties with Qatar.[128]
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Along with their American counterparts, Emirati special forces are said to be training elements of the opposition. They constitute a kind of Arab guarantee among the Syrian Democratic Forces – an umbrella group dominated by the Kurds of the PYD, on whom the US are relying to fight IS on the ground.
Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. helped pay the stipends for the Syrian fighters the U.S. is supporting
The Southern Transitional Council said Doha is helping Iranian-backed rebels to buy weapons
The newspaper quoted the former intelligence officer, who introduced himself under a pseudonym "Jason J," as saying that Doha has been funding the Houthi militia over the past few years "directly" with the aim of attacking Saudi Arabia. The Austrian newspaper stated that the files of the former intelligence man contain accurate details of Qatar's funding over the years for the Lebanese Hezbollah militias and the Muslim Brotherhood, which reveals the seriousness of the role Qatar plays in the region.
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