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DMEA POLICY DMEA

Diplomatic breakthrough following

Saudi talks with Qatar

MIDDLE EAST FOLLOWING a three-and-a-half-year block- notably not involved in the discussions.
ade of Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain Bloomberg quoted one person close to
Qatar has been under and Egypt, a breakthrough appears to have been proceedings as saying that issues including
a blockade by its Gulf made to improve relations between Riyadh and Doha’s relations with Iran remain unsolved
neighbours for three Doha. and must be overcome to achieve a return to
and a half years. Last week, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince normality.
Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said that “significant Since early 2020, the feeling within Saudi
progress” had been made during talks brokered Arabia has been building that relations with
by Kuwait and Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Qatar should be improved, particularly as the
Kushner. country is set to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
It is worth noting that the blockade was With Saudi Aramco having agreed a major spon-
implemented after a visit to Riyadh by President sorship deal with Formula 1, sport is seen as an
Trump, during which he is understood to have increasingly important tool for soft diplomacy.
urged Saudi Arabia to put pressure where possi- The Public Investment Fund (PIF) launched a
ble on countries in the region that appeared to be bid to acquire English football team Newcastle
getting closer to Iran. “In exchange the US would United, only for the sovereign wealth fund to
ramp up its support of the Saudi ruling family withdraw later following concerns in the UK
in terms of political rhetoric, intelligence-shar- about the public image of Saudi ownership and
ing and supporting the oil price in the financial complaints from Qatar. The latter came as part
markets,” a senior Gulf source told Middle East of a high-profile retaliation for the blockade and
Oil & Gas (MEOG) at the time. cited piracy of coverage of the sport with the
While the blockade has caused significant support of Riyadh. The Qatar-based beIN Sports
financial discomfort for Qatar, it has failed networks holds the rights to English Premier
to bring about the strategic shift in outlook League football in the Middle East, and the com-
intended. pany alleges that Saudi-backed pirates have been
Following last week’s talks, Riyadh appears retransmitting its signal illegally. This appears
to have opened up its land and air borders with unlikely to stop, but Riyadh is keen to be a part
Qatar in a move aimed at building confidence. of the 2022 event and these talks may bring that
However, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt are closer to reality. ™

Week 49 10•December•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P13