Wrap up: Qatar’s crisis culminates in Kuwaiti mediation

CAIRO – 6 June 2017: The cornerstone decision of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain to cut ties with Qatar was followed by a series of reactions on Monday. The list of countries that followed suit grew to eight states, and Qatar’s Al-Jazeera was also affected.

The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, will head to Riyadh on Tuesday to mediate in the dispute.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen suspended Qatar’s part, as the airspace and seaports of the said countries are now closed to Qatar. Yemen, Libya’s eastern government, the Maldives and Mauritius have severed diplomatic ties with Doha.

Qatar said it regrets the decision, citing “coordination with Egypt” to undermine the sovereignty of Doha.

Meanwhile, the embassy of Greece will represent Egypt in Qatar, which hosts a significant number of Egyptian expatriates. Qatar fears it may be kicked out of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Saudi authorities revoked the work license from Al-Jazeera network, days after Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Cairo blocked its website.

Further, Egypt’s largest three public banks; National Bank of Egypt, Bank Misr and Banque De Caire halted trading the Qatari Riyal.

Remarks from the international community varied. Russia's Kremlin said it is in Russia's interest to have a "stable and peaceful" situation in the Gulf, Reuters reported.

The U.S. Military said that the United States is grateful to Qatar for its longstanding support for U.S. military presence, enduring commitment to regional security, according to Reuters.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that he was saddened by a rift between Qatar and other Arab states, calling for a dialogue to resolve the dispute, Reuters reported.