US Takes Effort to End Qatar Rift to Saudi Arabia
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Kamis, 1 Januari 1970 07:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Dubai - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with his Saudi counterpart on Wednesday as he looks to end a rift between Qatar and four Arab states.
His trip from Kuwait to the western Saudi city of Jiddah on July 12, follows talks the previous day with the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. He has also held discussions with the ruler of Kuwait, who is mediating the dispute.
Read: US, Qatar Sign Agreement on Combating Terrorism Financing
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain severed relations with Qatar and cut air, sea and land routes with it more than a month ago, accusing it of supporting extremist groups. Qatar denies the allegation.
Tillerson met with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on arrival in the Red Sea city. He is expected to meet with officials from the rest of the quartet later in the day before returning to Kuwait.
He will likely press the quartet to ease up on some of its demands after he secured a deal with Qatar on Tuesday to intensify its fight against terrorism and address shortfalls in policing terrorism funding.
The four countries last month issued a tough 13-point list of demands to Qatar that included shutting down its flagship Al-Jazeera network and other news outlets, cutting ties with Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood, limiting ties with Iran and expelling Turkish troops stationed in the country.
Read: Qatar to Seek Compensation for Damages from Arab Blockade
Qatar has rejected the demands, saying that agreeing to them wholesale would undermine its sovereignty.
The squabble among five of its Mideast allies has put the United States in an uncomfortable position and risks complicating the Pentagon's operations in the region.
AP