After 3.5 years, there may be a solution to the conflict between Qatar and four other Arab countries. Kuwait’s foreign minister, who mediates in the row, has announced that the border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia is reopening.
In mid-2017, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates cut all diplomatic ties with Qatar. They did so because Qatar would support terrorist groups, something the emirate strongly denies.
As part of the boycott, Saudi Arabia closed both its air and land borders with Qatar, but according to the Kuwaiti minister, this will end tonight. The deal would be ratified at a conference in Saudi Arabia tomorrow.
The news has not been officially confirmed by other interested parties. However, the powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said that tomorrow’s conference will “bring unity to the region” and Qatar has announced that the summit will be attended by the head of state, Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
Role of the United States
According to Reuters news agency, American diplomats will also attend the conference. Among them would be Jared Kushner, son-in-law and Middle East adviser to President Trump.
An anonymous spokesman for the US government speaks to Reuters about “a breakthrough”. According to him, the four countries will end their boycott of Qatar and the emirate promises in return that it will not sue the other countries for the damage sustained.
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