Saudi Arabia Cuts Ties with Qatar Amid Terrorism Claims

Saudi Arabia Ends Diplomatic Relations with Qatar

A problem that is often debated nowadays is that of Saudi Arabia having announced the cessation of diplomatic relations with Qatar and closing the airspace to aircraft from that country. In addition, through a publication of its state news agency, Saudi Arabia has pointed out that this decision is necessary to protect the kingdom from the danger posed by "terrorism and extremism."

Evacuation Orders and Military Movements

On the one hand, Qatari citizens have fourteen days to leave Saudi Arabia after the rupture of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This decision has been made due to Qatar's alleged support for terrorist groups in Yemen and Syria, as highlighted by Al Arabiya. Saudi Arabia also announced the withdrawal of all its troops from neighboring Yemen, a country that has been in armed conflict since 2015. Riyadh (the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia) decided to start a military campaign by land and air from March of that same year.

Bahrain Breaks Ties with Qatar

On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has aligned with the Kingdom of Bahrain, which announced moments earlier that it would break diplomatic relations with Qatar because it accused Doha of attempting to destabilize Bahrain and interfere in its internal affairs. The announcement was issued from Manama, Bahrain's capital.

Measures Announced

• Closure of airspace to Qatari aircraft
• Evacuation deadline of fourteen days for Qatari citizens
• Withdrawal of troops from Yemen
• Diplomatic rupture by Bahrain and other aligned states

Accusations and Responses

Apart from this, Saudi Arabia has taken this crucial step as a result of what it describes as serious violations by the Doha authorities, both at the private and public levels. According to Riyadh, the rupture is also a sign of solidarity with Bahrain, which it says was exposed to terrorist campaigns allegedly supported by the Doha authorities. The Bahraini state news agency, for its part, has accused Qatar of attacking security and stability in Bahrain and meddling in its affairs.

Personal Assessment

As far as I am concerned, I do not believe that this will have a significant or even slight impact on the fight against terrorism in the region or globally. I believe that all of this stems from hostilities between these countries produced by commercial, political, and economic conflicts. All these differences not only cause problems between these countries, but also affect the global stage.