Qatar Crisis--What You Need To Know

Courtesy of The Associated Press

Quick Info:

• June 4, 2017: Media reports emerged of the hacking of the email account of Yousef al-Otaiba, the UAE's ambassador to the United States. 
• The emails revealed ties between Otaiba and a pro-Israel think-tank in Washington >> along with efforts to undermine the image of Qatar and to some extent, Kuwait, internationally.
• This included Emirati requests to move the US forward Central Command operations from the airbase in Qatar's al-Udeid, to the UAE.

• June 5-6, 2017: The 2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis began when several countries abruptly cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar.

• These countries included:
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Bahrain
• Egypt
• Yemen
• Maldives
• Libya
• The severing of relations included withdrawing ambassadors, and imposing trade and travel bans.

• The Saudi-led coalition cited Qatar’s support for terrorism as the main reason for their actions, insisting Qatar has violated a 2014 agreement with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

• Qatar claims that it has assisted the United States in the War on Terror and the ongoing military intervention against ISIL.

• Saudi Arabia's move was welcomed by United States president Donald Trump despite a large U.S. presence at the Al Udeid Air Base.
• The primary base of U.S. air operations against the Islamic State.

• A number of countries in the region >>> Turkey, Russia and Iran, called for the crisis to be resolved through peaceful negotiations.

• Qatar is dependent on imports by land and sea for the basic needs of its population of 2.7 million, and about 40% of its food came in through the land border with Saudi Arabia.
• The hoarding quickly ended after Turkey and Iran began sending food by air and sea.

• The emirate has now been warned by its neighbours that the restrictions will continue until it "changes its policies for the better”.

• Exports of liquefied natural gas have so far not been affected, and the emirate's finance minister says Qatar has enough resources to defend its economy and currency.

Background:

• Qatar has had differences with other Arab governments on a number of issues: 
• It is accused of maintaining good relations with Iran. The Shia power (Iran) is Sunni-ruled, Saudi Arabia's main regional rival.
• It shares the world's largest gas field with Iran.
• Broadcasts Al Jazeera.
• It has supported the Muslim Brotherhood in the past.

• Qatar is a close ally of the United States, hosting the largest American base in the Middle East, Al-Udeid Air Base.

• The countries withdrawing diplomatic relations accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism, of interfering with their internal affairs and maintaining relations with Iran.
• Egypt also cut diplomatic ties, but did not impose restrictions on its 180,000 citizens living in Qatar.
• Yemen, the Maldives and Libya's eastern-based government later followed suit.
• Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt closed their airspace to Qatari aircraft, and said foreign airlines would have to seek permission for overflights to and from Qatar.

• Two states in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) did not cut ties with Qatar - Kuwait and Oman.
• Kuwait has offered to mediate in the dispute.

• Qatar denies allegations that it supported terrorism, and pointed out that it has been contributing to the U.S.-led fight against ISIL.

The Proxy Battle:

• Proxy for states split by their sympathies for or against Iran.   
• Turkey, Russia and Iran have lined up behind Qatar
• Turkey's parliament has authorized 3,000 troops to Qatar.

• Tensions with Qatar’s Gulf Arab neighbours have grown in recent years as part of a tussle for regional leadership.

• The Gulf states have been emboldened by Trump and the row with Qatar as a Saudi-led attempt to bring Qatar into line.

• There was an immediate effect on air travel in the region: 
• Qatar Airways, one of the region’s major long-haul carriers, said it was suspending all flights to Saudi Arabia
• Etihad, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier, said it would suspend flights to Qatar “until further notice”
• Emirates, the Dubai-based carrier, announced it would suspend Qatar flights
• FlyDubai, the Dubai-based budget carrier said it would suspend flights to and from Doha

Issues of Contention:

• Qatar maintains relatively good relations with Iran.
• In 2006, Qatar was the only UN Security Council member to vote against United Nations Security Council Resolution 1696, which was calling on Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment program (which for Saudi Arabia is a very serious issue of national security).

• Qatar and Iran share ownership of the South Pars/North Dome Gas-Condensate field:
• By far the world's largest natural gas field, with significant geostrategic influence.
• In April 2017, after a 12-year freeze, Qatar lifted a self-imposed ban on developing the gas field with Iran, which would require cooperation between the two countries.

• Qatar used to be a kind of Saudi vassal state, but it used the autonomy that its gas wealth created to carve out an independent role for itself.

• Qatar wants to promote a regional policy of engagement with Shiite Iran to secure the source of its wealth.

• Qatar has supported the Muslim Brotherhood in the past.
• Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies see the Muslim Brotherhood as a threat,
•  It ideologically opposes hereditary rule.
• The government of Egypt has long viewed the Muslim Brotherhood as "enemy No. 1”.
•  In 2011, during the Arab Spring, Qatar supported the Egyptian protesters agitating for change, as well as the Muslim Brotherhood.
• By contrast, Saudi Arabia supported Hosni Mubarak and currently supports Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

• Qatar has been accused of sponsoring terrorism:
• Some countries have faulted Qatar for funding rebel groups in Syria such as:
• Hezbollah
• Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria >> the Al-Nusra Front.
• Although the Saudis have also supported Al-Nusra Front.
• Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been involved in the CIA–led Timber Sycamore covert operation to train and arm Syrian rebels.

• Qatar has hosted officials from the Afghan Taliban and Hamas.   
• Qatar defends this move by saying it is trying to act as an intermediary in regional conflicts.
• For example, Qatar hosted talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government in 2016.

Liquified Gas:

• Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are all members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

• Saudi Arabia is the de facto leader of the group as the largest oil producer in the world
• Qatar is one of OPEC’s smallest oil producers.

• Qatar is a global leader in liquefied natural gas production (LNG)-- it is natural gas that has cooled to liquid form for export by tanker.
• Despite the severing of ties >>>
• Qatari natural gas continues to flow to the UAE and Oman through Abu Dhabi based Dolphin Energy's pipeline.   
• The pipeline meets about 30-40 percent of UAE's energy needs.

• Iran and Qatar are respectively holders of the world's second and third largest natural gas reserves --behind Russia.

• LNG production in Qatar is divided between two companies, Qatargas and Rasgas.
• State oil company Qatar Petroleum (QP) owns a majority stake in both.
• RasGas is 70 percent-owned by QP and 30 percent-owned by ExxonMobil.

What Did Qatar’s Neighbors Want (13 Point List)?

• Curb diplomatic ties with Iran and close its diplomatic missions there.   
• Expel members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard from Qatar and cut off any joint military cooperation with Iran.   
• Only trade and commerce with Iran that complies with U.S. and international sanctions will be permitted.

• Sever all ties to “terrorist organizations,”  formally declare those entities as terrorist groups, specifically:
• the Muslim Brotherhood
• the Islamic State group
• Al-Qaida
• Lebanon’s Hezbollah

• Shut down Al-Jazeera and its affiliate stations.

• Shut down news outlets that Qatar funds, directly and indirectly, including
• Arabi21
• Rassd
• Al Araby Al-Jadeed
• Middle East Eye

• Immediately terminate the Turkish military presence currently in Qatar and end any joint military cooperation with Turkey inside of Qatar.

• Stop all means of funding for individuals, groups or organizations that have been designated as terrorists by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, the United States and other countries.

• Hand over “terrorist figures” and wanted individuals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain to their countries of origin.
• Freeze their assets and provide any desired information about their residency, movements and finances.

• End interference in sovereign countries’ internal affairs.   
• Stop granting citizenship to wanted nationals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain.   
• Revoke Qatari citizenship for existing nationals where such citizenship violates those countries’ laws.

• Stop all contacts with the political opposition in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain.   
• Hand over all files detailing Qatar’s prior contacts with and support for those opposition groups.

• Pay reparations and compensation for loss of life and other, financial losses caused by Qatar’s policies in recent years.   
• The sum will be determined in coordination with Qatar.

• Align itself with the other Gulf and Arab countries:
• Militarily
• Politically
• Socially
• Economically, 
• As well as on economic matters>>in line with an agreement reached with Saudi Arabia in 2014.

• Agree to all the demands within 10 days of it being submitted to Qatar, or the list becomes invalid.   
• The document doesn’t specify what the countries will do if Qatar refuses to comply.

• Consent to monthly audits for the first year after agreeing to the demands, then once per quarter during the second year.   
• For the following 10 years, Qatar would be monitored annually for compliance.

• On July Saudi Arabia and the UAE

***Qatar rejected a list of "non-negotiable" demands, saying it would not agree to any measures that threatened its sovereignty or violated international law.***