15 June 2017•Update: 16 June 2017
By Mohamed Abdul Ghaffar and Ahmed al-Masri
KUWAIT CITY/DOHA
The recent crisis in inter-Arab relations has begun to dissipate thanks to mediation efforts by the emir of Kuwait, a prominent member of Kuwait’s royal family said Thursday.
“I am sure this storm will pass peacefully to the benefit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),” Sheikh Salem al-Ali al-Sabah, who is also head of Kuwait’s National Guard, was quoted as saying on Thursday by Kuwait’s Al-Seyassah newspaper.
Along with Kuwait, the six-member GCC includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman and Bahrain.
Sheikh Salem attributed the alleged diplomatic breakthrough to recent mediation efforts by Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.
“His majesty’s swift response [to the crisis] shows the emir’s keenness to achieve reconciliation between brothers,” Sheikh Salem was quoted as saying.
The crisis began on June 5, when five Arab countries -- Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain and Yemen -- abruptly cut diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism.
Mauritania followed suit shortly afterward, while Jordan downgraded its diplomatic relations with Doha.
Qatar, for its part, strenuously denies accusations that it is a supporter of terrorism, describing the moves to diplomatically isolate it as “unjustified”.
In an effort to mediate the row, the Kuwaiti emir in recent days has visited Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, where he has held talks with those countries’ respective leaders.
F-15 deal
In a related development Wednesday, Qatar signed a $12-billion deal for the purchase of 36 U.S.-made F-15 fighter jets, according to a statement released by Qatari Defense Minister Khalid al-Attiyah, who is currently visiting the U.S.
“This agreement comes within the context of Qatar’s long-term commitment to working with our friends and allies in the U.S. with a view to strengthening military ties and strategic cooperation in our fight against violence and extremism," the statement read.
Notably, the announcement coincided with the arrival of two U.S. warships to Qatar, where they will take part in scheduled exercises with Qatar’s royal navy.
