Doha: Leaders of the oil and energy rich Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will meet in the northwestern Saudi city of Al-Ula Tuesday to iron out differences.
The GCC is a bloc that includes Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
Riyadh led the group of Gulf countries and beyond in 2017 to cut ties with Doha, alleging it was close to Tehran and supported radical groups, claims that Qatar has denied.
The US wants the quarelling neighbours, especially Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain, to patch up, insisting that only regional unity will isolate rival Iran
In the GCC bloc, Kuwait and Oman are seen to be neutral in the spat with Qatar.
The Jeddah-led alliance severed ties with Doha in June 2017, expatriated Qatari residents, closed their airspace to Doha and sealed borders and ports.
The Saudi-led bloc issued 13 demands for Doha, including shutting of television channel Al Jazeera, undertakings on terror funding, and closing of a Turkish military base. Doha has not bowed to any of the demands.
Analysts say while most in the region have agreed to an interim peace deal, Bahrain has not.
Manama has often clashed with Qatar in the recent past over the enforcement of maritime boundaries.
The Qatari coastguard has often intercepted vessels from Bahrain, which analysts say is acting as a proxy for both the Saudis and the Emiratis.
Manama flew four jets over Qatar’s territorial waters on 9 December, Doha complained to the United Nations Security Council.
Bahrain, however, denied it breached Qatari airspace during its “routine exercise” in Saudi-Bahraini airspace.
Abu Dhabi’s minister of state for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash tweeted last month that “political and social atmospheres in the Gulf are looking to end the Qatar crisis” but complained about Qatari media.
It is unclear if Qatari ruler Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will attend the summit.
Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan last month claimed a resolution of the crisis is in sight.
The thaw comes as the Gulf nations prepare for the US administration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Photo by J.Stiegler/Wikimedia Creative Commons