What does the Qatar split with its Arab neighbours mean

The split with Qatar by the Arab world’s biggest powers is the most severe escalation of internal Gulf tensions in decades.

Four Arab countries — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain — broke diplomatic relations with Qatar on Monday in co-ordinated announcements, citing the country’s links to extremist and pro-Iran groups. We look at why they severed ties, and the potential consequences.

What happened?

Three Gulf countries and Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, closing off their air and land routes to the tiny peninsula country — and prompting panic in Doha, its capital, where residents rushed to empty supermarket shelves and withdraw cash from ATMs.

Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E Egypt and Bahrain also barred Qatari aeroplanes and vessels from using their airspace and territorial waters.

Qatari citizens now have two weeks to leave Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., and Bahrain, which in turn have barred their citizens from travelling to Qatar.

What precipitated the diplomatic break?

The four countries are at odds over regional policy. Qatar hosts members of Islamist groups like Hamas in the Palestinian Territories and Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood and maintains some links with radical groups in Syria and elsewhere. Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., Egypt and Bahrain want that to stop.

They also differ over how to deal with Iran, Saudi Arabia’s main rival for regional influence. Riyadh has embraced an increasingly confrontational stance toward Tehran, and has expected its allies to follow suit. But Qatar has been reluctant to do so, preferring to resolve differences through diplomacy.

Map showing seven countries to cut ties with Qatar.

Why now?

Simmering tensions over regional policy flared up last month, when Qatar’s official news agency posted remarks attributed to emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani defending Iran and Hamas. Later, Qatar said the comments were untrue and the result of a hack.

That didn’t stop Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries from blocking Qatari media outlets, including Al Jazeera. Numerous articles sharply criticising Qatari foreign policy appeared in their respective local press.

Despite their longstanding disagreements over foreign policy, the diplomatic break caught most observers by surprise. Qatar was considered a close ally of Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf countries, with whom it shares deep cultural and commercial ties.

Some regional experts said Saudi Arabia and its closest allies felt emboldened to harden their position on Qatar after a show of support from US President Donald Trump, who travelled to the kingdom last month.

Why does what happened this week matter?

The diplomatic break is the most severe escalation of internal Gulf tensions in decades. It pits close US allies against each other at a time when Washington has been trying to intensify efforts against Islamic State and to counter broader extremism.

The command centre overseeing the US-led air campaign against Islamic State is based in a sprawling US military base in Qatar.

What comes next?

It is unclear what concessions, if any, Qatar, will be willing to make to mend ties with its three Gulf neighbours and Egypt. Qatar said in a Monday statement that the measures taken by the three Gulf countries “are unjustified and based on baseless and unfounded allegations.” The diplomatic rupture also raises questions over the future of the Gulf Cooperation Council, a political and commercial alliance that brought together Qatar with Saudi Arabia and the four other Gulf monarchies.

Until Monday, Qatar was also an active member of the Saudi-led coalition fighting against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who are aligned with Iran. But the coalition has formally expelled Qatar from the military alliance.

What does it mean for air travellers?

Air travel across the Gulf region and beyond faces major disruption. Read more about how Gulf passengers will be affected here.

What does it mean for 2022 World Cup?

Soccer’s governing body FIFA said it is in “regular contact” with the organising committee of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, though it did not comment directly on the diplomatic situation involving the Gulf State.

FIFA said in an emailed statement that it was “in regular contact with the Qatar 2022 Local Organising Committee and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy handling matters relating to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“We have no further comments for the time being,” it added.

Qatar’s local World Cup organising committee and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC,) which organises international matches in the region, both declined to comment.

Khalifa International Stadium in Doha after it was refurbished ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The influential German Football Association (DFB), whose team are the world champions, said it would discuss the matter with the German government. “We will discuss the new, complex political situation in the region and specifically in Qatar with the federal government,” DFB President Reinhard Grindel said in a statement. “There are still five years to go before the World Cup starts. During this time priority should be given to political solutions rather than threats of boycott,” added Grindel. “But one thing is clear. The football community worldwide should agree that ... major tournaments should not be played in countries that actively support terror.”

Qatar’s national team are still involved in the qualifying competition for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and are bottom of their group with four points from seven games, with matches against South Korea, Syria, and China still to play. The 2022 World Cup is the centrepiece of a carefully crafted strategy to project Qatar on to the global stage via sport. The diplomatic row could impact its preparations.

The Wall Street Journal