There has been a degree of de-escalation in the on-going Qatar crisis.
How did the issue de-escalated?
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt had listed 13 demands and warned that there would be serious consequences if Qatar failed to yield.
Qatar rejected the ultimatum and the 4 countries have not yet carried out their threats.
Qatar sldo leaked the text of the demands to the media in order to draw the attention of the international community.
The world came to realize that the four countries wanted Qatar to surrender its sovereignty in the realm of foreign policy.
They also wanted to align Qatar’s social, political and economic policies with that of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Following the international scrutiny, the countries have softened their stand, signaling that it might be enough if Qatar were to accede to ‘Six Principles’.
What was the reason for de-escalation?
The initial move by Donald Trump was intended to project Saudi Arabia as the undisputed leader of the Muslim world.
But, later the US State Department publicly rebuked Saudi Arabia for resorting to an embargo against Qatar without justification.
This might have probably compelled the four countries to come out with their badly drafted set of demands.
U.S’ Secretary of State went to Saudi Arabia where he met King Salman and the foreign ministers of the four countries.
Though there was no breakthrough, the four countries got a clear message that the US had taken a stand for an early resolution of the crisis viz. a position that favored Qatar.
With this, the foreign ministers of the four countries issued a declaration of ‘Six Principles’.
How did Qatar handled the crisis?
Qatar made it clear that it would be prepared talk about the principles only after the blockade is lifted.
Qatar’s handled the issue withn diplomatic maturity and patience.
It has chosen not to retaliate.
UAE continues to get natural gas from Qatar.
They have not expelled 300,000 Egyptians who continue to work in its territory.
Qatar has even constituted a Compensation Claims Committee to consolidate claims from Qatar Airways, banks, and others who have been affected by the blockade.
