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4 Arab States Break Ties With Qatar, Complicating U.S. Coalition-Building 5 Arab States Break Ties With Qatar, Complicating U.S. Coalition-Building
(35 minutes later)
SYDNEY, Australia — Hours after four Arab countries broke diplomatic relations with Qatar, a crucial United States ally, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson offered on Monday to broker the impasse in hopes of preserving the Trump administration’s efforts to create broad coalitions against Iran and terrorist groups in the Middle East. SYDNEY, Australia — Hours after five Arab countries broke diplomatic relations with Qatar, a crucial United States ally, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson offered on Monday to broker the impasse in hopes of preserving the Trump administration’s efforts to create broad coalitions against Iran and terrorist groups in the Middle East.
“We certainly would encourage the parties to sit down together and address these differences,” Mr. Tillerson said.“We certainly would encourage the parties to sit down together and address these differences,” Mr. Tillerson said.
“If there’s any role that we can play in terms of helping them address those, we think it is important that the G.C.C. remain unified,” he said, adding a reference to the Gulf Cooperation Council, a group of Persian Gulf countries.“If there’s any role that we can play in terms of helping them address those, we think it is important that the G.C.C. remain unified,” he said, adding a reference to the Gulf Cooperation Council, a group of Persian Gulf countries.
The remarks by Mr. Tillerson, who is in Australia with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, came on the heels of dramatic announcements by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that they were suspending diplomatic ties, as well as air and sea travel to and from Qatar, potentially choking off access to an important United States ally. In its statement, Saudi Arabia urged “all brotherly countries and companies” to do the same. The remarks by Mr. Tillerson, who is in Australia with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, came on the heels of dramatic announcements by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen that they were suspending diplomatic ties, as well as air and sea travel to and from Qatar, potentially choking off access to an important United States ally. In its statement, Saudi Arabia urged “all brotherly countries and companies” to do the same.
The four countries cut diplomatic ties because of an array of disputes that involved Qatar’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood and its sponsorship of the satellite news channel Al Jazeera, which is often critical of the Egyptian and Saudi authorities. The five countries cut diplomatic ties because of an array of disputes that involved Qatar’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood and its sponsorship of the satellite news channel Al Jazeera, which is often critical of the Egyptian and Saudi authorities.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling the decisions “unjustified.”Qatar’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling the decisions “unjustified.”
The split came two weeks after President Trump visited the Saudi capital, Riyadh, to offer a tight embrace of the kingdom in hopes that Saudi Arabia could help lead fellow Sunni Arab nations in a fight against extremism and, with Israel, present a united front against Shiite-led Iran.The split came two weeks after President Trump visited the Saudi capital, Riyadh, to offer a tight embrace of the kingdom in hopes that Saudi Arabia could help lead fellow Sunni Arab nations in a fight against extremism and, with Israel, present a united front against Shiite-led Iran.
Indeed, Mr. Trump became so enamored of the Saudis that he cast them as the centerpiece of a possible peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians. But such a deal relied in part on the Arab world uniting behind the Saudis as an interlocutor, a prospect made far less likely by Monday’s events.Indeed, Mr. Trump became so enamored of the Saudis that he cast them as the centerpiece of a possible peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians. But such a deal relied in part on the Arab world uniting behind the Saudis as an interlocutor, a prospect made far less likely by Monday’s events.
The already sour relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia were strained in late May when the Saudis accused Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, of calling for improved ties with Iran, the regional rival of the Saudi kingdom, and criticizing some Gulf Arab states. The already sour relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia were strained in late May when the Saudis accused Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, of calling for improved ties with Iran, the regional rival of the Saudi kingdom, and criticizing some gulf Arab states.
The Qataris insisted that the comments were the work of hackers who broke into the website of the Qatar state news agency and called for an investigation. But the Saudis rejected that explanation.The Qataris insisted that the comments were the work of hackers who broke into the website of the Qatar state news agency and called for an investigation. But the Saudis rejected that explanation.
There have long been fissures between Qatar and other Sunni Arab nations. Qatar, for example, provided financial support to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, which led the former government in Egypt and opposed the Egyptian military’s takeover as an illegal “coup.” Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E., which consider the Muslim Brotherhood a threat to stability to the region, supported the Egyptian military’s takeover.There have long been fissures between Qatar and other Sunni Arab nations. Qatar, for example, provided financial support to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, which led the former government in Egypt and opposed the Egyptian military’s takeover as an illegal “coup.” Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E., which consider the Muslim Brotherhood a threat to stability to the region, supported the Egyptian military’s takeover.
Mr. Tillerson and Mr. Mattis, who appeared in their first joint news conference, in Sydney, after talks with their Australian counterparts, insisted that the rupture in relations among the Arab states would not undermine the fight against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL.Mr. Tillerson and Mr. Mattis, who appeared in their first joint news conference, in Sydney, after talks with their Australian counterparts, insisted that the rupture in relations among the Arab states would not undermine the fight against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL.
“I am confident there will be no implications,” said Mr. Mattis, who was privately informed of the decision earlier in the day.“I am confident there will be no implications,” said Mr. Mattis, who was privately informed of the decision earlier in the day.
But the escalating confrontation between Qatar and other Sunni Arab states, in fact, presents a fresh and unwelcome complication for the United States military, which has made strenuous efforts to forge a broad military coalition against the Islamic State.But the escalating confrontation between Qatar and other Sunni Arab states, in fact, presents a fresh and unwelcome complication for the United States military, which has made strenuous efforts to forge a broad military coalition against the Islamic State.
Adding to the difficulties, American forces have important commands distributed across the feuding nations.Adding to the difficulties, American forces have important commands distributed across the feuding nations.
The American-led air war command in the fight against the Islamic State, for example, is at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Qatar is also the host for the forward headquarters of the United States Central Command, which oversees all American military operations in Afghanistan and the Middle East.The American-led air war command in the fight against the Islamic State, for example, is at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Qatar is also the host for the forward headquarters of the United States Central Command, which oversees all American military operations in Afghanistan and the Middle East.
Bahrain hosts the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet, while the United Arab Emirates provides air bases that are used by the American-led coalition.Bahrain hosts the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet, while the United Arab Emirates provides air bases that are used by the American-led coalition.
In breaking ties with Qatar, Bahrain and the U.A.E. indicated that they would follow the Saudi lead in ordering their citizens to leave Qatar.In breaking ties with Qatar, Bahrain and the U.A.E. indicated that they would follow the Saudi lead in ordering their citizens to leave Qatar.
But that raises a thorny question: How can the American-led air campaign include warplanes from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the U.A.E. if these governments will no longer allow their military representatives to be based or even visit the American-led air war command?But that raises a thorny question: How can the American-led air campaign include warplanes from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the U.A.E. if these governments will no longer allow their military representatives to be based or even visit the American-led air war command?
Beyond the military difficulties, a host of multinational corporations have operations in each of the feuding nations. The Saudi call for companies to withdraw from Qatar could present international executives with a blizzard of difficult choices about where to do business.Beyond the military difficulties, a host of multinational corporations have operations in each of the feuding nations. The Saudi call for companies to withdraw from Qatar could present international executives with a blizzard of difficult choices about where to do business.
In Monday’s news conference, Mr. Tillerson also defended President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord, saying he did not expect the choice to significantly affect relations with Australia or other nations.In Monday’s news conference, Mr. Tillerson also defended President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord, saying he did not expect the choice to significantly affect relations with Australia or other nations.
“I think the president’s decision to exit the climate accord again was his judgment that that agreement did not serve the American people well,” said Mr. Tillerson, who pushed forcefully in internal discussions to remain in the climate accord.“I think the president’s decision to exit the climate accord again was his judgment that that agreement did not serve the American people well,” said Mr. Tillerson, who pushed forcefully in internal discussions to remain in the climate accord.
Despite the decision to exit the treaty, Mr. Tillerson said that Mr. Trump recognizes that the issue of climate change is an important one.Despite the decision to exit the treaty, Mr. Tillerson said that Mr. Trump recognizes that the issue of climate change is an important one.
Although many of Mr. Trump’s aides have refused to say whether Mr. Trump still believes that climate change is a hoax, as he stated during the campaign, his chief diplomats — including Nikki Haley, the United States ambassador to the United Nations, and now Mr. Tillerson — have insisted that the president views the issue as important.Although many of Mr. Trump’s aides have refused to say whether Mr. Trump still believes that climate change is a hoax, as he stated during the campaign, his chief diplomats — including Nikki Haley, the United States ambassador to the United Nations, and now Mr. Tillerson — have insisted that the president views the issue as important.
“He’s not walking away from it,” Mr. Tillerson said, referring to the importance of addressing climate change perhaps in a new international agreement. “He’s simply walking away from what he felt was an agreement that did not serve the American people well.”“He’s not walking away from it,” Mr. Tillerson said, referring to the importance of addressing climate change perhaps in a new international agreement. “He’s simply walking away from what he felt was an agreement that did not serve the American people well.”
Julie Bishop, Australia’s foreign minister, said that Australian officials largely looked beyond President Trump’s tweets, in which he sometimes criticizes close American allies in ways that complicate international diplomatic efforts.Julie Bishop, Australia’s foreign minister, said that Australian officials largely looked beyond President Trump’s tweets, in which he sometimes criticizes close American allies in ways that complicate international diplomatic efforts.
“In relation to Twitter, I understand that it has a maximum of 140 characters,” Ms. Bishop said. “So we deal with the president and his cabinet and the U.S. administration on what they do, what they achieve, what their strategies are and how we can work together in a close and deep cooperation.”“In relation to Twitter, I understand that it has a maximum of 140 characters,” Ms. Bishop said. “So we deal with the president and his cabinet and the U.S. administration on what they do, what they achieve, what their strategies are and how we can work together in a close and deep cooperation.”
Although the Australians and Americans hailed their close ties, there were signs of strain. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia has admitted that he was “disappointed” by Mr. Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord. On Monday, Mr. Mattis said that the two countries were close enough that the Australians “tell us what we need to hear, not necessarily what we want to hear.”Although the Australians and Americans hailed their close ties, there were signs of strain. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia has admitted that he was “disappointed” by Mr. Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord. On Monday, Mr. Mattis said that the two countries were close enough that the Australians “tell us what we need to hear, not necessarily what we want to hear.”
Mr. Tillerson also warned the nations of Asia to remain firm in their dealings with China despite China’s increasing economic clout in the region. China is Australia’s largest trading partner, and the two countries formalized a trade pact in 2015.Mr. Tillerson also warned the nations of Asia to remain firm in their dealings with China despite China’s increasing economic clout in the region. China is Australia’s largest trading partner, and the two countries formalized a trade pact in 2015.
“China is a significant economic and trading power,” Mr. Tillerson said, but in a reference to a dispute over China’s increasingly assertive claims to sovereignty over much of the South China Sea, he added: “We cannot allow China to use its economic power to buy its way out of other problems.”“China is a significant economic and trading power,” Mr. Tillerson said, but in a reference to a dispute over China’s increasingly assertive claims to sovereignty over much of the South China Sea, he added: “We cannot allow China to use its economic power to buy its way out of other problems.”