Gulf

Nicolai Due-Gundersen | (The Conversation) | – – A blockade against Qatar by its Gulf neighbours is now in its fifth month. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates severed socio-economic ties with Qatar as punishment for its alleged support of terrorism and interference in their affairs. As well as hurting Qatar’s economy, […]

censorship

UN: Saudi Bloc attempt to close Al Jazeera is attack on Freedom of Expression

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Reuters reports that U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, is “extremely concerned by the demand that Qatar close down the Al Jazeera network, as well as other affiliated media outlets.” The statement was released by UNCHR spokesman Rupert Colville. Colville added: “Whether or […]

censorship

Turkey’s Erdogan: Saudi demand he close Qatar base is ‘Disrespectful’

contributors

TeleSur | – – Erdogan told journalists after Eid al-Fitr prayers that “It (the list of demands from Qatar’s neighbors to lift the ban) is a breach of Qatar’s sovereignty rights.” On Sunday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared that he supported Qatar’s response to a list of demands issued by the Arab states that boycotted […]

Donald Trump

How Long can Qatar defy its powerful neighbors? It depends on Trump

contributors

By Nader Habibi | (Conversation) | – – The recent decision by half the nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and a few other countries to isolate fellow member Qatar came as a surprise to many – though perhaps it shouldn’t have. Nearly all of Qatar’s residents live in its capital, Doha. Doha skyline […]

Bahrain

Top Reasons Why Qatar Will Survive the Saudi-led Diplomatic Offensive

contributors

By Mohammed Nuruzzaman | (Informed Comment) | – – The Saudi – Qatar diplomatic rift is intensifying, showing no sign of immediate solution. Since June 5, the day Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt broke off relations with Qatar, both sides have kept hardening their mutually opposed positions. The limited diplomatic initiative the Emir […]

Bahrain

Saudi v. Qatar: Will Turkish intervention cause Escalation?

contributors

By James M. Dorsey | (Inter Press Service) | – – SINGAPORE (IPS) – Turkey’s parliament is this week fast tracking the dispatch of up to 3,000 troops to Qatar, home to the country’s military base in the Middle East. Certain to stiffen Qatar’s resolve to resist Saudi and UAE-led pressure to force it to […]

GCC

Turkey OKs draft Bill to send Troops to bolster Qatar re: Saudis

contributors

TeleSur | – – Turkey and Qatar also both supported Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated projects throughout the Arab Spring, drawing strong Saudi ire. Turkey has waded into the geopolitical storm engulfing Gulf Arab states as its Parliament approved a draft bill Wednesday to expedite the deployment of troops to a Turkish military base in Qatar. The move […]

Arab World

Trump’s Ally: Saudi Arabia’s drive for Aristocratic Hegemony in the Middle East

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Saudi Arabia is making a drive to become a regional hegemon. It has long used its oil wealth to achieve a great deal of influence among neighbors, of course. But it is now flexing military muscles. From a Saudi point of view, they have suffered decades […]

Gulf

How Iran Deal Could Change the Middle East

contributors

By Benjamin Tua | (Foreign Policy in Focus) | – – Washington’s rapprochement with Iran has opened the door for major realignments from Israel to Afghanistan. Similar to the dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, ethno-sectarian fights will inevitably remold the Middle East and reshape the boundaries for new nation-states. The profound changes occurring in […]