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 fully restored.
The leaders of the Gulf-Egypt Cooperation Council signed an agreement on Tuesday that aims to strengthen 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 the Al-Ula statement that has left a dispute … between the four countries and Qatar,” said Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, referring after the agreement named after the old city. from Al-Ula, where the leaders of the Arab countries met.
The region fell into crisis in 2017, when Saudi Arabia and its allies severed diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar, accusing the small gas-rich country of being too close to Iran and supporting terrorism. Doha has denied these allegations.
We strongly believe that the Al-Ula Declaration resolves all outstanding issues and concerns that the parties of the countries would have had.
Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister
Saudi Arabia opened its airspace, 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 thinks the deal will be a “very, very strong foundation” for future regional stability.
When asked if it was a victory for the outgoing Trump administration, al-Saud said, “I think this agreement is a victory for the region, first of all, a victory for all of us.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud will hold a press conference at the end of the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in the city of al-Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia on January 5, 2021.
Fayez Nureldine | AFP | Getty Images
Still, he recognized the support of the US and Kuwait, who mediated between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. “Absolutely, President Trump and (White House senior adviser) Jared Kushner have contributed to the achievement of this agreement, working very closely with Kuwait, who has been working on this for a while,” 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 address the challenges in the region, “especially the threats posed by the Iranian regime’s nuclear program,” Arab News said.
Secretary of State al-Saud told CNBC the deal is in the interests of the security of the region. “This agreement is not about Iran or anyone else. It’s about bringing our countries together and making sure we work together to bring prosperity and security to our people.”
When asked if Saudi Arabia might be trying to get in the good favor of President-elect Joe Biden before the inauguration, he said, “This isn’t about Washington, it’s about the region and the priorities our countries have.”
Biden is expected to reverse US support for the kingdom when he takes office.
The Saudi foreign minister said the Gulf states will work together on security and economic integration.
“We strongly believe that the Al-Ula Statement resolves all outstanding issues and concerns that the parties of the countries would have had, and that it lays the foundation for a very strong, cooperative agenda for the GCC, as well as for the region, ”he said.