What Really Led to October 7: The Qatar Diplomatic Crisis of 2017-2021
The Qatar Diplomatic Crisis was a major conflict in the Middle East that lasted from 2017 to 2021. It involved several Arab countries cutting ties with Qatar and imposing a blockade. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt led this action. They accused Qatar of supporting terrorism and having close relations with Iran. The crisis caused big problems for trade, travel, and diplomacy in the region. It showed deep divisions among Gulf countries that had been building for years. In the end, the countries agreed to end the blockade in 2021, but some tensions remained. This article looks at the background, causes, main events, and how it ended, with a special focus on the serious threat of invasion by Saudi Arabia.
Background to the Crisis
The roots of the crisis go back many years. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was formed in 1981 to bring together Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman. The goal was to help these countries work together on security and economic issues. For a long time, Saudi Arabia was seen as the leader of the group because of its size, oil wealth, and role in protecting holy sites in Islam.
However, Qatar started to follow its own path in the 1990s. Under the rule of the Al Thani family, Qatar wanted more independence. It built strong ties with other countries and invested in media like Al Jazeera, which often criticized other Arab governments. This made some neighbors unhappy. In 2014, there was already a smaller crisis. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain pulled their ambassadors from Qatar for about eight months. They said Qatar was not following agreements and was interfering in their internal affairs.
The 2011 Arab Spring uprisings made things worse. Many people in the Middle East protested against their leaders, leading to changes in countries like Egypt and Tunisia. Qatar supported groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, which wanted political changes based on Islamic ideas. Saudi Arabia and the UAE saw these groups as a danger to their own stability. They worried that supporting such movements could lead to unrest at home. Qatar’s close links with Turkey, which also backed the Muslim Brotherhood, added to the problems. Turkey even set up a military base in Qatar, which the other countries saw as a threat.
By 2017, the tensions had grown too much. The leaders in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi felt that Qatar was not acting like a true ally. They believed Qatar’s actions were harming the unity of the GCC and making the region less safe. This set the stage for the full crisis.
Causes of the Blockade
The main reasons for the blockade came from the views of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt. These countries, often called the Quartet, said Qatar was supporting terrorism. They pointed to Qatar’s links with groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, which they called a terrorist organization. The UAE was especially strong on this point because it feared the Brotherhood could challenge its government.
Another big issue was Qatar’s relationship with Iran. Iran is a rival to many Sunni Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia. The Quartet accused Qatar of being too friendly with Iran, sharing a big gas field and keeping diplomatic ties open. They said this helped Iran against the rest of the Gulf states. At a time when tensions with Iran were high, like over the war in Yemen, this was seen as betrayal.
Al Jazeera was also a key problem. The network, based in Doha, often broadcast reports that criticized Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Quartet said it spread false news and supported extremist ideas. They wanted Qatar to shut it down or control it better.
There were other complaints too. Qatar was accused of interfering in the internal politics of its neighbors, like supporting opposition groups in Egypt after the 2013 change in government. Bahrain said Qatar was stirring up trouble among its Shia population. Overall, the Quartet felt Qatar was trying to play a bigger role in the region than its size allowed, challenging Saudi leadership.
In May 2017, things came to a head. There was a report that Qatar’s emir had made comments supporting Iran and criticizing other Arab leaders. Qatar said this was fake news from hackers, but the Quartet used it as a reason to act. On June 5, 2017, they cut all diplomatic ties, closed borders, and banned travel and trade with Qatar.
The Blockade Begins
The blockade started suddenly and had immediate effects. Saudi Arabia closed its land border with Qatar, the only way for goods to come in by road. The UAE and Bahrain shut their airspace and ports to Qatari ships and planes. Egypt also joined in, closing its airspace. This meant Qatar could no longer easily import food, medicine, and building materials. Before the crisis, about 40% of Qatar’s food came through Saudi Arabia.
The Quartet gave Qatar a list of 13 demands to end the blockade. These included cutting ties with Iran, closing the Turkish military base, shutting down Al Jazeera, and stopping support for the Muslim Brotherhood. They also wanted Qatar to pay money for damages and agree to checks on its actions. Qatar refused these demands, saying they attacked its right to make its own decisions.
The blockade caused hardship for many people. Families were split because Qataris could no longer live or work in the other countries. Students from Qatar had to leave universities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Businesses lost money, and travel became much harder. Airlines like Qatar Airways had to fly longer routes to avoid closed airspace, costing more fuel.
Despite the pressure, Qatar found ways to cope. It increased trade with Turkey and Iran, bringing in food by sea and air. Oman helped by allowing ships to use its ports. Qatar also spent money to grow more food at home and build new factories. But the crisis showed how divided the Gulf was. Kuwait tried to mediate from the start, talking to both sides, but early efforts failed.
Impacts on the Region
The crisis affected not just Qatar but the whole Middle East. The GCC became weaker because its members could not agree. Meetings were held, but without full participation, little was achieved. This made it harder to deal with bigger threats like Iran or the war in Yemen.
Economically, the blockade hurt trade in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia and the UAE lost business with Qatar, and shipping costs went up for everyone. Qatar’s economy slowed at first, with stock markets falling. But the Quartet also faced costs. Their airlines and ports saw less traffic as Qatar turned elsewhere.
Socially, the crisis divided families and tribes that lived across borders. Many people in the Gulf have relatives in different countries, and the blockade stopped visits and weddings. Media wars made things worse, with TV channels on both sides attacking each other.
On the world stage, the crisis drew in other countries. The United States had a big military base in Qatar, Al Udeid, with thousands of troops. The US wanted the Gulf states to stay united against Iran, but the blockade made that harder. President Donald Trump at first seemed to support the Quartet, but later his team worked to end the crisis. Other countries like Russia and China stayed neutral, but Turkey strongly backed Qatar, sending more troops to its base there.
The blockade also changed how people saw the region. It showed that small countries like Qatar could stand up to bigger ones with smart planning. But it highlighted the power struggles between Saudi Arabia and others.
The Threat of Invasion
One of the most serious parts of the crisis was the plan by Saudi Arabia and the UAE to invade Qatar. In the summer of 2017, just months after the blockade started, intelligence reports showed that Saudi forces were ready to cross the border. The UAE would help with its military. The goal was to take control of Doha, the capital, and force big changes.
Saudi leaders wanted to end Qatar’s independence completely. They aimed to overthrow the Al Thani royal family, who had ruled for many years. The Quartet saw the Al Thanis as the source of the problems, with their support for groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and ties to Iran. By removing them, Saudi Arabia hoped to install a more friendly government that would follow Riyadh’s lead.
Destroying Al Jazeera was also a key part of the plan. The network had long angered Saudi Arabia with its reports on corruption and human rights issues. Shutting it down by force would silence a major critic and stop it from spreading ideas the Quartet disliked.
The invasion was close to happening. Saudi troops were positioned near the border, and plans were made for a quick takeover. However, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson found out about it from Qatari and US intelligence. He made urgent calls to Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, warning them not to attack. Tillerson said it would damage relations with the US and risk a bigger war. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis also spoke to his counterparts. In the end, the Saudis backed down, worried about losing US support. But this event showed how far the Quartet was willing to go to control Qatar.
The near-invasion raised questions about stability in the Gulf. It made other countries nervous and showed the deep anger toward Qatar’s policies. Even after the plan was stopped, the threat hung over the crisis, making peace talks harder.
Diplomatic Efforts
From the beginning, Kuwait worked hard to bring the sides together. Its emir hosted meetings and sent messages between leaders. The US also got involved, especially after the invasion threat. In 2018 and 2019, there were signs of softening. Saudi Arabia started talking about reconciliation to improve its image after other issues like the Yemen war.
But the UAE was slower to agree. It had strong views against Qatar’s links to the Muslim Brotherhood and Turkey. Bahrain and Egypt also wanted Qatar to meet the 13 demands fully. Talks went on in secret, with help from the Trump administration. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, played a role in pushing for a deal.
By 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and economic problems made unity more important. The coming change to President Joe Biden in the US also pushed the Quartet to fix things, as Biden was expected to be tougher on Saudi Arabia.
Resolution in 2021
The crisis ended at the 41st GCC Summit in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, on January 5, 2021. Leaders from all GCC countries, including Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, met and signed an agreement called “solidarity and stability.” The Quartet agreed to open borders, resume flights, and restore diplomatic ties. Qatar dropped its lawsuits against them at the World Trade Organization.
The deal did not force Qatar to meet all 13 demands. Instead, both sides promised to stop negative media and work on trust. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman led the effort, hugging the Qatari emir in a show of unity. This was seen as a win for Saudi leadership in the region.
The resolution came because of changing needs. Saudi Arabia wanted to focus on Iran and fix its economy. The UAE joined to avoid more isolation. But not all issues were solved. Ties with Bahrain and the UAE took longer to warm up.
Aftermath and Lingering Tensions
After 2021, relations improved slowly. Flights restarted, and trade grew. Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup without major problems, and some Quartet countries even attended. But tensions remain. Saudi Arabia and the UAE still compete with Qatar for influence. Issues like oil production and foreign policy differ.
The crisis changed the GCC. It is now less united, with countries following their own paths more. Saudi Arabia pushes for stronger ties against Iran, but trust is low. Economic rivalries, like attracting businesses, continue between Riyadh and Dubai.
The blockade cost billions and split families, but it ended without war. It showed how power struggles can divide allies.
And then, conveniently for Qatar, Turkey and Iran… October 7 happened, and the entire Arab world was united against Israel. Qatar, Turkey and Iran, with support from the UN, Russia, China and the EU, succeeded in bringing the Arab world together, and turning the world against Israel using the Soviet-PLO creation of the mythical Palestinian cause once more.
They achieved what they set out to do, and the world has been conned again by the greatest lie ever told.
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