Qatar–Saudi Arabia relations
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Saudi Arabia–Qatar relations refers to the current and historical relationship between the
Qatar contributed 1,000 troops to the
On 4 January 2021, Qatar and Saudi Arabia agreed to reopen airspace, land and maritime borders, with the expectation to fully restore diplomatic relations.[7][8] On 16 January, the Saudi announced it would reopen its embassy in Qatar.[9] On 9 January 2021, Saudi Customs resumed operations with Qatar at the Salwa border crossing, and on 14 February 2021, the trade of goods between Qatar and Saudi Arabia resumed through the Abu Samra border crossing.[10]
Diplomatic relations prior to the 20th century
It was not until an 1868 maritime agreement that Qatar was recognized as a sovereign entity by the British, who controlled much of the
Some time before 1810, the transitory ruler of Qatar
Political cooperation
Foreign policy
Until the late 20th century when Emir
Even after bilateral relations worsened in the 1990s and 2000s, Qatar still followed the Kingdom's lead in several issues, such as participating in the
Saudi mediation of Bahrain–Qatar disputes
Saudi Arabia has a decades-long history of mediating disputes between Qatar and its neighbor Bahrain. Relations between the two countries have historically been turbulent due to disagreements over the rightful ownership of several territories. In the 1940s, the Saudis were responsible for mediating a dispute between the two over Zubarah's ownership, being preferred over the British.[18] Saudi Arabia also helped the two reach an agreement over the Hawar Islands. However, the Saudis efforts did not result in any tangible results, and Qatari-Bahraini territorial disputes were referred to the International Court of Justice in 1991.[19]
Saudi mediation of internal conflicts in Qatar
Saudi Arabia had served as a safe haven for dissidents of Qatar from the mid-20th century onward, ranging from high-ranking members of the Al Thani family to businessmen and common people. Qatar itself had often exiled its most powerful critics to Saudi Arabia. This was usually temporary, with the dissidents returning to Qatar after the Saudi government would negotiate resolutions between the two parties.[18]
Political tensions
Ascension of Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
Since he took power in 1995, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani believed Qatar could find security only by transforming itself from a de-facto Saudi vassal state to a rival of Saudi Arabia. When Hamad bin Khalifa assumed power, Qatar was in a better position to chart its own path than any time prior because of the massive wealth it had gained from hydrocarbon extraction. Among his early actions that the drew the ire of the Saudis were forming ties with Iran and Israel and establishing Al Jazeera in 1996.[2]
In 1996, a
Early-to-late 2000s
After Saudi Arabia refused to host US troops preparing for the Iraq War, in early 2002 the US signed a military agreement with Qatar culminating in the opening of Al Udeid Air Base.[21] This was an important phase in Qatar's pivot from Saudi influence, since the US base guaranteed Qatar's protection against any possible military interventions by Saudi Arabia and its allies.[2]
In July 2002, a broadcast by Al Jazeera featured Saudi religious activist Mohsen Al-Awaji, who criticized Saudi Arabia's involvement in Afghanistan and its approach on the Palestinian question.[22][23] For this reason, 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.[24]
2014 Saudi–Qatari rift
During a March 2014 meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), after which the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain announced the recall of their ambassadors to Qatar. This was largely a result of Qatar's backing of Islamist groups, namely the Muslim Brotherhood.[25][26][27]
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 the
2017–19 Qatar diplomatic crisis
On 5 June 2017, Saudi Arabia had officially cut ties with Qatar.
Other experts have argued that, given the strategic and economic
Saudi Arabia threatened its Gulf neighbor with military action over Doha's discussions on purchasing the Russian-made air defense system.[33]
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Foreign Minister of Qatar while reacting said in an interview to a TV channel that this threat is an example of 'impulsive behaviour' and is detrimental to GCC stability.[34]
After boycotting the 2019 Arabian Gulf Cup in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, later in November 2019, announced to participate in the tournament, signaling a thaw to the stand-off between the countries.[35][36]
Economic relations
Until the Qatar diplomatic crisis, Qatar imported upwards of 80% of its food from its Persian Gulf neighbors, chiefly Saudi Arabia. The vast majority of food was transported on land through the Salwa Border Crossing connecting both countries. This border crossing was closed in June 2017 and Qatar's trade with the blockading countries was suspended, thereby cutting off Qatar from its primary source of food imports.[37] Imports of pharmaceuticals were also interrupted in Qatar, of which 50 to 60% was supplied by Saudi Arabia and the other Arab countries in the Persian Gulf.[38]
Qatar bypassed the blockade by setting up trade routes with Turkey, Iran, Kuwait and Oman.[39] In May 2018, Qatar declared that it would ban products imported from Saudi Arabia and the three other blockading nations.[40]
Military relations
During the
Qatar provided 1,000 ground troops for the
Although Qatar was traditionally reliant on Saudi Arabia for its security, the Turkish military base in Qatar[42] set up in 2014 allows Qatar to reduce its dependency on Saudi Arabia.[43]
Media rivalry
Qatari media organisation Al Jazeera was launched in 1996 and within a short time it became one of the most influential news sources for the Arab world. Al Jazeera was regarded as controversial by many Middle Eastern governments, all of whom kept a tight rein on the information consumed by their population. Among other events, the network has granted interviews to Israeli government officials, interviewed with Islamist and terrorist groups, and criticized the rulers of Arab countries. Saudi Arabia regards Al Jazeera as a propaganda tool of the Qatari government used to undermine the region's stability.[3]
Mainly due to Al Jazeera's publishing of a peace treaty made between the Saudi and Israeli governments[citation needed], in 2002 Saudi Arabia withdrew its ambassador from Qatar in protest. He was not reinstated until 2008. In 2003, Saudi Arabia inaugurated Al Arabiya, which tried to become the counterweight to Al Jazeera. Al Arabiya has been among Al Jazeera's most vocal critics.[3] Amidst the 2014 Qatar–GCC rift, Saudi Arabia halted Al Jazeera's operations in the country over the network's broadcasting of incendiary statements made in interviews and directed at the Persian Gulf monarchies, and its readiness to provide Islamist groups with a podium.[44]
At the beginning of the Qatar diplomatic crisis in June 2017, Al Jazeera broadcasting was banned in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, its office was shut down and websites were blocked. When the Saudi-led quartet presented their list of demands to Qatar over two weeks later, one of the demands stipulated that Qatar's government close down of Al Jazeera and other Qatar-affiliated media organisations.[45]
Saudi Arabia banned Qatari-based beIN Sports on 13 June 2017, shortly after the diplomatic crisis began. beIN Sports is one of the largest sport broadcasters in Asia and holds exclusive licenses with many European leagues for the MENA region. No clear explanation was given for Saudi Arabia's decision to ban the network except that its government made the decision out of "concern for the rights of its citizens and residents".[46] Months later, a pirated network broadcasting beIN Sports' programmes emerged in Saudi Arabia called "beoutQ". Qatar accused the Saudi government of being behind the scheme and claimed that beoutQ was formed as a way of subverting Qatar's soft power and global influence.[47]
Countries of contention
Reopening
Qatari–Saudi relations were restored on 4 January 2021. Land, air and water borders were immediately reopened ahead of the 2021 GCC summit.[48]
See also
- Foreign relations of Qatar
- Foreign relations of Saudi Arabia
- Iran-Arab Relations (Saudi Arabia)
- OPEC
- Qatar–Saudi Arabia border
- Qatar-Saudi Arabia diplomatic conflict
- Territorial disputes in the Persian Gulf
References
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