Qatar diplomatic crisis

Quick Facts: Who was Qatar diplomatic crisis?

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Qatar diplomatic crisis

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A period of intense diplomatic hostility between Qatar and four major Arab states (2017-2021).

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Origins & Early Life

The Qatar diplomatic crisis was a period of diplomatic hostility between Qatar and four Arab states between 2017 and 2021. It began when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt simultaneously severed their bilateral relations with Qatar and subsequently banned Qatar-registered aircraft and Qatari ships from traversing their territory on land, sea, and air. This involved Saudi Arabia's closure of Qatar's only land crossing, initiating a de facto blockade of the country. The crisis was brought to an end in January 2021, following an agreement between the Saudis and the Qataris. The Saudi-led coalition cited Qatar's alleged support for terrorism as the main reason for their actions, alleging that Qatar had violated a 2014 agreement with the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), of which Qatar is a member.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Saudi Arabia and other countries have criticized Al Jazeera and Qatar's relations with Iran. Qatar explained that it had provided assistance to some opposition groups, including Islamist groups (such as the Muslim Brotherhood), but consistently denied aiding militant groups linked to al-Qaeda or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Qatar also emphasized that it had long assisted the United States in the war on terror, especially via the Qatar-based Al Udeid US military base, and through the ongoing military intervention against ISIL. One day into the crisis, the Saudi-led coalition was joined by Jordan, and was further supported thereafter by the Maldives, Mauritania, Senegal, Djibouti, the Comoros, and the Tobruk-based government in Libya, all of which severed relations with Qatar. The demands against Qatar included reducing diplomatic relations with Iran, stopping military coordination with Turkey, and closing Al Jazeera; Qatar refused to agree to any of the Saudi-led coalition's demands.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Initial supply disruptions were minimised by additional imports from Iran, with which Qatar restored full diplomatic relations in August 2017, and Turkey. On 4 January 2021, Qatar and Saudi Arabia agreed to a resolution of the crisis, brokered by Kuwait and the United States, which stated that Saudi Arabia would reopen its border with Qatar and begin the process of reconciliation. An agreement and final communiqué signed on 5 January 2021 following a GCC summit at al-Ula marked the resolution of the crisis. According to Middle East analyst Samuel Ramani in an article published in Foreign Policy, the crisis was a failure for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt, because Qatar ended up forging closer ties with Iran and Turkey, and became economically and militarily stronger and more autonomous. After taking power as emir of Qatar in 1995, Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani believed Qatar could find security by transforming itself from a Saudi satellite state into a fully sovereign state, on an equal standing with Saudi Arabia.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1995: 1995 Milestone — After taking power as emir of Qatar in 1995, Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani believed Qatar could find security by transforming itself from a Saudi satellite state into a fully sovereign state, on an equal standing with Saudi Arabia.
2. 2014: 2014 Milestone — The Saudi-led coalition cited Qatar's alleged support for terrorism as the main reason for their actions, alleging that Qatar had violated a 2014 agreement with the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), of which Qatar is a member.
3. 2017: 2017 Milestone — The Qatar diplomatic crisis was a period of diplomatic hostility between Qatar and four Arab states between 2017 and 2021.
4. 2021: 2021 Milestone — The crisis was brought to an end in January 2021, following an agreement between the Saudis and the Qataris.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Qatar diplomatic crisis

True or False: “The initial blockade was solely orchestrated by Saudi Arabia without involvement from other GCC members.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The blockade involved Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt simultaneously severing relations with Qatar.

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