Gulf leaders end Qatar rift at summit

By Nathan Morley

The Emir of Qatar is in Saudi Arabia to attend a Gulf cooperation council summit which will end a rift which ruptured the Arab world and has tested US diplomacy since 2017.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia reopened its borders and airspace to Qatar after boycotting it for the last three years.

Four countries – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt - blockaded Qatar accusing its leaders of supporting terrorism and Islamists in the region, and of getting too close to the Iranian government.

The embargo weakened unity among Gulf countries as tensions with the biggest regional rival Iran have risen.

The main mediation efforts appear to have been led by Kuwait but it is understood the Trump administration wants its share of the credit for the breakthrough.

Now the Kuwaiti emir and Qatari emir and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince have confirmed their intention to start a new beginning in their relations.