Bahrain’s Crown Prince Calls Qatar In Obvious Step In direction of Mending Fences

Bahrain’s crown prince and PM, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, referred to as the Qatari Emir.

Dubai:

Bahrain’s crown prince spoke with Qatar’s emir by phone, the BNA state information company reported late on Wednesday, in an indication the 2 Gulf states may transfer in direction of repairing relations two years after an Arab boycott of Qatar was lifted.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt in January 2021 ended a 3-1/2-year embargo of Qatar however since then there have been no bilateral discussions between Doha and Manama to resolve variations.

BNA mentioned that Bahrain’s crown prince and prime minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, had within the name with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani “emphasised the significance of joint efforts to resolve all excellent variations”.

“It was additionally agreed that officers from each nations will proceed to speak to attain widespread targets,” BNA mentioned.

The dialog got here after Qatar’s emir and Bahrain’s king attended a small Arab summit hosted by the UAE’s president in Abu Dhabi final week that was additionally attended by the rulers of Oman, Jordan and Egypt.

The row that led the quartet chopping all ties with Qatar in 2017 centered round its assist for Islamist actions deemed a risk by Arab neighbours and its ties with Shi’ite Muslim energy Iran and Turkey.

The 4 states additionally had their very own disagreements with Qatar.

Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia has led efforts to rebuild ties with Qatar and, together with Egypt, re-established diplomatic relations. The UAE and Bahrain have but to take action.

All however Bahrain restored journey and commerce hyperlinks in 2021.

As they give attention to financial priorities, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have moved to enhance ties with Turkey and have interaction with regional foe Iran to attempt to handle tensions.

Bahrain, a Sunni Muslim-ruled monarchy with a restive Shi’ite inhabitants, has deep unease over Qatar’s relations with Iran. Bahrain additionally has territorial disputes with Qatar.

(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)