Qatar and Bahrain resume their diplomatic relations

The US considers the agreement “an important step in establishing a more stable and prosperous Middle East region”

13 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The governments of Qatar and Bahrain have announced in a joint statement that they will restore bilateral diplomatic relations, in an effort to strengthen cooperation between the two members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

This is the conclusion of two meetings in Riyadh, at the GCC headquarters, in talks led by the Secretary General of the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Hasan al Jamadi, with the Undersecretary for Political Affairs of Bahrain, Saij Abdula bin Ahmed al kalifa.

“Both sides have confirmed that this decision stems from the mutual desire to develop bilateral relations and improve integration in the GCC, as well as unity in favor of the GCC statutes, and enhance respect for the principles of equality between States, sovereignty and national independence, territorial integrity and good neighborliness”, they have detailed in the letter.

In addition to Bahrain, the governments of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE announced in June 2017 the break of their diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing Doha of “supporting terrorism”, accusations that the country has always rejected. Ties were restored in early 2021, although relations remained tense.

The Government of the United States has congratulated the two countries, after the National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, has expressed in a statement that “a Gulf Cooperation Council, of which Bahrain and Qatar are key members, united is a important step in establishing a more stable and prosperous Middle East region, including through integrated trade, economic and defense agreements.”

“The United States has been working since the beginning of the (President, Joe) Biden Administration to strengthen regional integration, de-escalation, and rapprochement between United States allies,” Sullivan said in his letter.