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Qatar crisis: four Arab states vow fresh economic and political sanctions Rex Tillerson to fly to Kuwait in effort to defuse Qatar crisis
(about 3 hours later)
The four Arab states leading the boycott against Qatar said late on Thursday that Doha’s refusal of their demands was proof of its links to terrorist groups and that they would enact new measures against it. The US secretary of state will fly to the Gulf on Monday amid escalating US efforts to bring to an end a crisis that has seen a Saudi-led quartet of Arab countries embargo Qatar over what they say is its support for terrorism.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain released a joint statement carried by their state media saying their initial list of 13 demands was now void and pledging new political, economic and legal steps against Qatar. Rex Tillerson will fly to Kuwait – which has been attempting to mediate between the two sides – after Saudi Arabia and its partners warned of unspecified new steps against Doha following the passing of a deadline for action without a resolution of the standoff.
Qatar’s stance “reflects its intention to continue its policy, aimed at destabilising security in the region”, their statement said. “All political, economic and legal measures will be taken in the manner and at the time deemed appropriate to preserve the four countries’ rights, security and stability.” US state department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Washington was growing “increasingly concerned that the dispute is at an impasse” and could drag on for weeks or months.
The United States is increasingly concerned the diplomatic crisis in the Gulf is at an impasse and could drag on or intensify. The US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, plans to visit Kuwait, which is mediating in the dispute, on Monday. In a further sign of growing US intervention the defence secretary, James Mattis, called his opposite number in gas-rich Qatar, Khaled bin Mohammad al-Attiyah, to emphasise the “importance of de-escalating tensions ... so all partners in the Gulf region can focus on next steps in meeting common goals,” in a Pentagon statement. The US stations some 10,000 troops at a huge airbase in Qatar that is vital for the campaign against Islamic State.
US defence secretary Jim Mattis discussed “the importance of de-escalating tensions” in a phone call with Qatari defence minister Khalid al-Attiyah on Thursday. The two officials “affirmed the strategic security partnership” of their countries and Mattis emphasized the importance of Qatar’s contributions to the US-led coalition fighting Isis, the Pentagon said in a statement. Germany has also offered the help of its intelligence services to clear up allegations of Qatari funding of extremism.
However, the four Arab states said the Qatari government had stalled diplomatic efforts to solve the rift, and that its refusal of their demands affirmed its continuing sabotage of the region’s stability and security. The moves came as the four Arab countries isolating Qatar vowed to take additional steps after Qatar refused to accept a list of 13 demands – which include shutting down the cable news network al-Jazeera, based in Doha.
Any measures taken by the four states would be aimed at the Qatari government rather than its people, they said, without elaborating on when the new steps would be announced or what they would entail. In a joint statement carried on Gulf state media, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain accused Qatar of blocking all efforts aimed at resolving the rift adding that it intends to “continue its policy aimed at destabilising security of the region”.
Foreign ministers from the four states convened in Cairo the day after the expiry of a 10-day deadline for their demands to be met. They earlier condemned the tiny Gulf nation’s response as “negative” and lacking in content. They vowed to “take all necessary political, economic and legal measures” against Qatar in a “timely manner”. They did not specify what those steps could include, though officials have previously suggested they could intensify efforts to isolate Qatar economically.
Since last month, the countries have cut diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar, which they accuse of supporting terrorism and allying with regional foe Iran. Doha denies the charges. The four countries cut diplomatic ties and severed air, land and sea links with the World Cup 2022 host early last month. They later issued a 10-day ultimatum to a 13-point list of demands that included cutting ties with terrorist groups, curbing relations with Iran and shutting media outlets.
Among their demands were orders for Qatar to curtail its support for the Muslim Brotherhood, shut down the pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV channel, close a Turkish military base in Doha and downgrade its ties with Iran. Despite the embargo Qatar has proved more resilient than the Saudi-led quartet appears to have anticipated, quickly shifting its port arrangements and attracting the prominent support of Turkey.
Qatar issued its response to the ultimatum in a handwritten letter from 37-year-old emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani that was delivered to Kuwait, which is mediating the crisis, earlier this week. The contents of the letter have not been disclosed, but the anti-Qatar bloc has described it as negative and failing to appreciate the gravity of the situation.
Qatar denies that it sponsors extremism and says the moves against it are aimed at stifling a foreign policy that has carved a more independent route than its Gulf neighbours on Iran – with whom Qatar shares a gas field – and during the Arab spring.
Qatar has also been criticised for its connections with the Muslim Brotherhood and for hosting senior members of the Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas.