Simone Lawson
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Iran, and Saudi Arabia have been involved in complex diplomatic relations and conflicts in recent years. In 2017, a major diplomatic crisis emerged between Qatar and several other countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, due to allegations of Qatar's support for Islamist groups and its engagement with Iran. This led to a blockade and boycott of Qatar, impacting trade and travel. However, Qatar's economic strength and alliances with countries like Turkey and Iran helped it withstand the sanctions. The crisis was eventually resolved in 2021, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE restoring diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar. Beyond this, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have also played roles in mediating conflicts and have been viewed as potential peacemakers in global affairs. Meanwhile, the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran has been strained, with proxy conflicts and ideological differences, although there have been efforts towards peace talks and resolutions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of diplomatic crisis | 2017 |
| Countries involved | Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Turkey |
| Reasons for the crisis | Qatar's foreign policy, its support of Islamist groups, its ties with Iran, and its engagement with Turkey |
| Demands made on Qatar | Cut relations with Iran, comply with trade sanctions on Iran, shut down a Turkish military base, halt military cooperation with Turkey, cut ties with "terrorist" groups |
| Impact of the crisis | Embargo, media blitz, blockade, airspace and sea route closures, land crossing blockades, expulsion of Qatari citizens, severing of diplomatic ties |
| Resolution efforts | Al-Ula Agreement signed in 2021, reopening of embassies, restoration of diplomatic ties, resumption of flights and trade |
| Current status | Diplomatic ties have improved, but full reconciliation is uncertain |
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What You'll Learn
Qatar's diplomatic crisis
In April 2017, Qatar was involved in a deal with both Sunni and Shi'ite militants in Iraq and Syria. The deal aimed to secure the release of 26 Qatari hostages, including Qatari royals, who had been kidnapped while falcon hunting in southern Iraq. It also sought to facilitate humanitarian aid and the safe evacuation of civilians in Syria. However, the amount of money Qatar paid to secure the deal, reportedly $700 million to Iranian-backed Shi'a militias, outraged Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
In May 2017, the Qatar News Agency website and other government media platforms were hacked, resulting in the posting of false remarks attributed to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. These remarks were falsely attributed to him expressing support for Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Israel. Despite Qatar's denial and clarification, the false statements received widespread publicity in non-Qatari Arab news media, further escalating tensions.
The Riyadh Summit in late May 2017 marked a significant escalation, with Saudi and Emirati leaders informing US officials of their plan to blockade Qatar. The Trump administration's support for Saudi Arabia and its anti-Qatar policies emboldened the kingdom and sent a chill through other Gulf states. On June 5, 2017, Trump tweeted in support of Saudi Arabia's actions, claiming that Qatar funded "Radical Ideology" and "extremism."
The blockade of Qatar included the closure of land, air, and sea routes, disrupting imports and exports. Saudi Arabia closed its land border and airspace to Qatar, while the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt joined in imposing restrictions. The blockading countries also issued a list of demands for Qatar to meet before restoring diplomatic relations, including reducing ties with Iran, stopping military coordination with Turkey, and closing Al Jazeera. Qatar refused to agree to these demands, instead strengthening its relations with Iran and Turkey.
The Qatar diplomatic crisis had significant implications for the region, raising questions about the stability and cohesion of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It also impacted the Yemeni Civil War, with Qatar expelled from the anti-Houthi coalition. The crisis was eventually resolved in January 2021, with Qatar and the blockading countries agreeing to restore diplomatic relations and reopen borders.
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Saudi Arabia's relations with Israel
Saudi Arabia and Israel have never had formal diplomatic relations. In 1947, Saudi Arabia voted against the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine and currently does not recognize Israeli sovereignty. However, as of 2023, bilateral negotiations towards Israeli-Saudi normalization are ongoing, with the United States serving as a mediator.
Saudi Arabia has historically supported the Arab League against Israel and called for Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and other occupied territories. Saudi troops fought against Israel in the 1948 and 1973 wars, and the country has long supported Palestinian rights to sovereignty. However, in recent years, Saudi Arabia has shifted its stance and has engaged in behind-the-scenes cooperation with Israel in the areas of diplomacy, intelligence, and security. This warming of relations is largely due to the shared antipathy between the two countries towards Iran, as well as political Islamists. Both countries have denied reports of intelligence sharing, including a report that Saudi Arabia allowed an Israeli strike on Iran to pass through its airspace.
The prospect of a normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel has been a topic of interest for some time, with the signing of the 2020 Abraham Accords heightening expectations. However, many foreign policy priorities of both countries appear disconnected from normalization, and it is unclear how an official relationship with Israel would advance Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's global, regional, and domestic ambitions. Additionally, the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia is dependent on an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, which does not seem imminent.
Despite the lack of formal relations, there have been secret meetings between Saudi and Israeli officials, and both countries have expressed interest in improving relations. Saudi Arabia ended its ban on Israeli goods and services in 2005 due to its application to the World Trade Organization, and Israeli officials have urged the Saudis to move towards a public agreement. The potential normalization of relations is viewed by Israel as an opportunity to enhance its cooperation with the region's largest economy and improve its standing among other Arab and Islamic countries. For Saudi Arabia, improving relations with Israel is a means of insulating itself from regional tensions and conflicts, which is crucial for the progress of Saudi Vision 2030, an ambitious social and economic transformation agenda.
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UAE's rivalry with Qatar
The UAE and Qatar have had a rivalry since 1972, which was initially centred around football. However, in 2017, the UAE joined Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt in imposing a boycott and blockade of Qatar, marking a significant downturn in their political relations. This was largely due to Qatar's engagement and support of Islamist groups across the Middle East, which other Gulf Arab countries considered terrorist organisations.
The UAE and other countries demanded that Qatar cut ties with Iran and comply with trade sanctions, as well as sever relations with Turkey and halt military cooperation. They also demanded that Qatar close Al Jazeera and other state-funded media outlets. As a result of the blockade, Qatar was forced to reroute flights to Africa and Europe through Iranian airspace, and it restored full diplomatic relations with Iran and Turkey, strengthening its ties with these countries.
The diplomatic crisis also impacted the football rivalry between the two countries, with the UAE actively participating in the blockade of Qatar by banning Qataris from entering the country for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. The UAE youth team captain refused to shake hands with their Qatari counterpart, and UAE fans threw bottles and shoes at Qatari players.
In addition to the political and sporting rivalries, Qatar and the UAE also compete in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market. Qatar has faced challenges in agreeing on new deals with Japan and South Korea due to rising competition from the UAE and other suppliers offering more flexible contract terms.
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Iran's funding of Hezbollah
Iran has been the primary source of funding for Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah was founded during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) and is known for its violent opposition to Israel and resistance to Western influence in the Middle East. Iran, a major Shiite theocratic government in the region, saw an opportunity to expand its influence in Arab states and began providing financial and military support to the group.
Over the years, Iran's support for Hezbollah has fluctuated, but it remains the group's largest benefactor. In 2018, US officials estimated that Iran transfers $700 million annually to Hezbollah. This support comes in the form of cash funds, weapons, explosives, political, diplomatic, and organizational aid. Iran has also been accused of funnelling money to Hezbollah through private charities, which are allegedly used for healthcare, education, and supporting war widows. Hezbollah has also been implicated in cigarette smuggling and the heroin trade in the Golden Triangle region of Southeast Asia, providing additional sources of funding.
Hezbollah's financial network has been a concern for US intelligence officials and policymakers, who have sought to crack down on its funding streams. Lebanon's central bank has taken steps to shut down the accounts of Hezbollah members and affiliates, and secondary sanctions have been imposed on Iran. Despite these efforts, Hezbollah continues to receive significant support from Iran and has even boasted about receiving funding despite sanctions.
In addition to direct funding, Iran has also been accused of providing weapons and financial support to other terrorist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad through Hezbollah. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has played a key role in facilitating this support and creating Hezbollah. Iran's funding to these groups is believed to increase after successful attacks and decrease during political considerations or ceasefires.
Hezbollah has also diversified its funding sources by seeking support from other countries and diaspora communities. They have received funding from Venezuela, the Shi'ite Lebanese Diaspora in West Africa and the United States, and the tri-border area of Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil. Hezbollah has also reportedly stored funds outside of Lebanon in places like Iraq and Dubai to avoid the impact of legislation targeting their finances.
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Saudi Arabia's proposed Gulf Union
The idea of transforming the GCC into a "Gulf Union" was first proposed by Saudi Arabia during the Arab Spring in 2012. The union proposal was designed to contain Shi'ite Muslim dissent in Bahrain and counter the growing influence of Shi'ite Iran in the region. It also aimed to stem the fear of the Arab Spring's impact and the spread of Iranian influence.
However, the proposal faced significant opposition from other GCC members, particularly Oman, Kuwait, and the UAE, who feared a loss of sovereignty and being dominated by Saudi Arabia. They also pointed to the challenges of integrating varying social and political systems. Despite these objections, Bahrain strongly supported the proposal, seeing it as a way to suppress an uprising led by majority Shi'ite Muslims, believed to be backed by Iran.
The GCC's influence and unity have been challenged by intensifying rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with diverging foreign policies and economic competition affecting the efficacy and integrity of the council. This rivalry has also impacted the GCC's ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with major international partners.
Additionally, Qatar's relations with other GCC members, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have been strained due to accusations of supporting Islamist groups and its ties with Iran and Turkey. This led to a diplomatic crisis in 2017, with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt imposing a boycott and blockade of Qatar. Despite this, Qatar's economic strength and close ties insulated it from the sanctions, and relations have since improved, with embassies reopening.
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Frequently asked questions
The Qatar diplomatic crisis refers to the 2017 diplomatic conflict between Qatar and several other countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt. The crisis was sparked by allegations that Qatar funded terrorist groups and had warm ties with Iran. As a result, these countries imposed a boycott and blockade on Qatar, severing diplomatic and trade ties and blocking land, sea, and air routes.
The Qatar diplomatic crisis was ultimately resolved on January 5, 2021, with Saudi Arabia agreeing to reopen its border with Qatar and begin the reconciliation process. This resolution was brokered by Kuwait and the United States. However, it is argued that the crisis had unintended consequences, as Qatar strengthened its ties with Iran and Turkey and became economically and militarily stronger.
As of 2023, relations between these countries have improved, with the UAE and Qatar reopening embassies and Saudi Arabia welcoming the resumption of diplomatic relations. However, tensions remain, especially with the UAE and Saudi Arabia's normalization of relations with Israel and their rivalry with Iran. Additionally, Qatar continues to face accusations of supporting Islamist groups.
