QATAR was cut off from its neighbours yesterday as seven countries severed diplomatic ties and closed its land, sea and air routes to the outside world.
In the most serious diplomatic crisis to hit the Gulf in recent years, the Qatari government has denied backing terror groups and acting to destabilise the region.
Stock markets dived in reaction to the news yesterday, while residents of the peninsular kingdom, which imports about 40 per cent of its food by road, reportedly rushed to stock up on supplies as trade routes closed.
Qatar’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said there was “no legitimate justification” for the action and vowed to protect its 2.7 million inhabitants.
Accusing external governments of trying to impose “guardianship” over the country, officials said: “The State of Qatar has been subjected to a campaign of lies that have reached the point of complete fabrication.
“It reveals a hidden plan to undermine the State of Qatar.”
WHO IS INVOLVED?
BAHRAIN initiated the move yesterday morning, followed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with Qatari citizens given 14 days to get out of these countries.
Egypt, Yemen’s official government, authorities in Eastern Libya and the Maldives also severed ties with Qatar, while airlines based in countries involved – including Emirates, Etihad and FlyDubai – suspended flights to and from the capital city Doha.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways was unable to cross neighbouring territories after Gulf allies closed their airspace to the carrier.
WHY HAVE THE DONE THIS?
ACCORDING to Saudi Arabia, its hand was forced by Qatar’s “embrace of various terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at destabilising the region”. This includes Daesh, al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Meanwhile, Bahrain attributed its decision to its neighbour’s “support for armed terrorist activities and funding linked to Iranian groups to carry out sabotage and spreading chaos in Bahrain” and Egypt called Qatar an “antagonist”, adding: “All attempts to stop it from supporting terrorist groups failed.”
The unprecedented move has seen Qatar ejected from the Saudi-led coalition battling Houthi rebels in Yemen and splits the powerful Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), of which Qatar is a member.
It follows recent trouble over Qatar’s state-run news agency last month, when officials said hackers had published fabricated comments from its ruler about Iran and Israel.
Yesterday the Foreign Ministry said: “Qatar respects the sovereignty of other nations and does not interfere in their internal affairs, and it has fulfilled its role in fighting terrorism and extremism.
“It is clear that the media campaign of fabrications has failed to sway public opinion in the region, and among Gulf countries in particular, and this explains the continued escalation against Qatar.
“That reasons were fabricated in order to take action against a brotherly GCC nation is clear evidence that there is no legitimate justification for such measures, which have been implemented in co-ordination with Egypt.
“Their purpose is clearly the imposition of guardianship over Qatar, which is in itself a violation of its sovereignty, and is rejected outright.”
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS?
QATAR is home to the al-Udeid Air Base, which houses 10,000 American troops, but it is not yet clear if the decision will affect American military operations.
A part of the US coalition against Daesh, the country has denied Iraqi claims that it has funded the terror group and has links to similar organisations.
President Donald Trump attended a summit in Saudi Arabia two weeks ago, and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson yesterday said he did not believe the diplomatic crisis would disrupt the war against Daesh in Iraq and Syria. “What we’re witnessing is a growing list of disbelief in the countries for some time, and they’ve bubbled up to take action in order to have those differences addressed,”
he said.
“We certainly would encourage the parties to sit down together and address these differences.”
In Turkey, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: “We see the stability in the Gulf region as our own unity and solidarity. Countries may of course have some issues, but dialogue must continue under every circumstance for problems to be resolved peacefully. We are saddened by the current picture and will give any support for its normalisation”.
Qatar remains on course to hold the Fifa World Cup in 2022 and has vowed to ensure the crisis does “not affect the normal lives of citizens and residents”.
The football body said it had spoken with local tournament organisers but declined to make any further comment.
Bahram Qasemi of Iran’s Foreign Ministry called on the states to talk it out, saying: “To resolve regional disputes and the current dispute, they should adopt peaceful methods, transparent dialogue and diplomacy. No country in the region will benefit from the heightened tension.”
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