WASHINGTON – Trump’s leadership hopes to capitalize on the agreements to be signed this week between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain pushing to end a dispute that has rocked the Persian Gulf countries.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday that the United States expects Saudi Arabia and its regional allies to end a three-year blockade opposed to neighboring Qatar that persisted despite repeated requests from the United States for a resolution. about the Arab-Israeli rapprochement for greater agreement with Iran’s developing malevolent behavior.
“To stay in this picture and close the door to further Iranian interference, it’s time to find a solution to the Gulf crack,” Pompeo said. “Trump’s leadership looks forward to seeing this dispute resolved and opening Qatar’s air and ground borders. recently blocked through other Gulf states. I look forward to moving forward on this issue. “
Pompeo commented at the opening of the strategic discussion between the United States and Qatar in the State Department in the presence of Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and his Qatari counterparts. .
“We face unrest that only matters to our two nations, but also to the broader stability of the Middle East and neighboring regions,” said Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. “Despite regional challenges, the ongoing blockade opposes us, our collaboration has been continually strengthened. “
The crisis has torn the Gulf Cooperation Council, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates from the boycott targeting their country since 2017, Egypt also joined the boycott and all closed their airspace and borders with Qatar.
The four countries broke ties with Qatar on June 5, 2017, just after a summit in Saudi Arabia at which Gulf leaders met with President Donald Trump, and say the crisis stems from Qatar for extremist teams in the region, accusations denied through Doha.
The 4 countries also highlighted Qatar’s proximity to Iran, which features a huge high-sea fuel box that supplies the peninsular country with its wealth. Qatar has restored complete diplomacy with Iran amid the dispute.