The end of the Gulf dispute is a victory for the region, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister told CNBC after announcing that relations between Qatar and four Arab countries have been completely restored.
Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Egypt on Tuesday signed an agreement aimed at strengthening unity and cohesion. The deal came more than three years after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt imposed a trade and travel blockade on Qatar.
“We were able to reach Al-Ula’s statement that leaves behind a dispute … between the four countries and Qatar,” said Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister. to the agreement that bears the name of the ancient city. of Al-Ula where leaders of the Arab nations met.
The region plunged into a crisis in 2017, when Saudi Arabia and its allies severed diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar, accusing the small gas-rich nation of being too close to Iran and supporting the terrorism. Doha has denied these allegations.
We firmly believe that Al-Ula’s statement resolves all outstanding issues and concerns that the parties in the countries would have had.
Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia opened its air, land and sea borders to Qatar on Monday. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, with a hug when he arrived on Saudi soil.
Al-Saud said he believes the deal will be a “very, very strong basis” for regional stability in the future.
Al-Saud, when asked if it was a victory for the outgoing Trump administration, said: “I think this agreement accumulates a victory for the region, first and foremost, a victory for all of us.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud is holding a press conference at the end of the 41st Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the northwestern city of Al-Ula. ‘Saudi Arabia, January 5, 2021.
Fayez Nureldine | AFP | Getty Images
However, he acknowledged the support of the United States and Kuwait, which has been mediating between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. “Absolutely, President Trump and (White House senior adviser) Jared Kushner helped reach that agreement, working very closely with Kuwait, which has been working on it for a long time,” he told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble.
Not about Iran or Washington
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Tuesday that unity of the GCC is needed to counter the region’s challenges, “particularly the threats posed by the Iranian regime’s nuclear program,” according to Arab News.
Foreign Minister al-Saud told CNBC that the deal is for the good of the region’s security. “This agreement is not about Iran or anyone. It is about uniting our countries and making sure we work together to bring prosperity and security to our people.”
When asked if Saudi Arabia is trying to get into the good graces of President-elect Joe Biden before taking office, he said, “It’s not about Washington, it’s about the region and the priorities our countries have. “.
Biden is expected to regain U.S. support for the kingdom when he takes office.
The Saudi foreign minister said the Gulf nations will cooperate on issues of security and economic integration.
“We strongly believe that Al-Ula’s statement resolves all outstanding issues and concerns that the parties of the countries would have had and that it lays the foundations for now a very strong cooperation agenda for the GCC, and also for the region.” , he said.