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Theodore's Royalty and Monarchy Site > Categories > Asia and Africa > A feud develops between Gulf monarchies
 
 


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DavidV

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
In sensational news, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have announced they are cutting ties with Qatar. Kuwait and Oman have refrained from doing so:

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/06/05/Saudi-Arabia-severs-all-ties-with-Qatar-closes-off-borders.html

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/06/05/Saudi-Arabia-s-Gulf-affairs-minister-Qatar-must-bear-consequences-of-its-actions.html

Not sure what Trump will do now:
https://english.aawsat.com/eli-lake/opinion/qatar-test-trumps-anti-terror-plan

It remains to be seen how this pans out. Qatar has been under scrutiny for its links to a number of organisations and movements, which it can fund with its enormous wealth.

We must also remember that there are more complex tribal and sectarian factors here. While all Gulf monarchies save for Oman are Sunni, they belong to different tribal groups. The Al-Thani family of Qatar are of the Banu Tamim tribe, while the Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, Al-Khalifa of Bahrain and Al-Sabah of Kuwait are of the Anazzah tribe. The rulers of Dubai and Abu Dhabi are of the Bani Yas tribe, while Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah are of the Qawasim.

However, they also adhere to different forms of Sunni Islam. Kuwait, Bahrain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi adhere to the Maliki madhab also dominant in North and West Africa. Saudi Arabia and Qatar follow the Hanbali madhab which is the basis for Salafism or "Wahhabism", also found in the UAE. However, the Qatar and UAE versions are considered to be more moderate than the Saudi versions. The other two madhabs are the Shafi'i and Hanafi, which also have followers in the Gulf including Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, this is the first time two or more monarchies have been at odds with each other since... World War II.
Ethiomonarchist

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
The Saudis have been emboldened by the Trump visit and the firming up of ties with the White House.  They now feel entitled to tell others what form of extremism is the "approved brand".  They are in fact just as bad, if not worse, than the Qataris.  The only honorable regime in the entire Middle East is the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in my view.  The rest of it is just a writhing pit of snakes.  Sorry if I seem overly wrought by this, but I increasingly loathe the Saudis.

The rift has been developing for quite a while.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/leakers-share-email-dump-targeting-182226049.html
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"God and history shall remember your judgment." (Quote from Emperor Haile Selassie I's speech to the League of Nations to plead for assistance against the Italian Invasion, 1936.)
Elizabelo_II

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ethiomonarchist
The Saudis have been emboldened by the Trump visit and the firming up of ties with the White House.  They now feel entitled to tell others what form of extremism is the "approved brand".  They are in fact just as bad, if not worse, than the Qataris.  The only honorable regime in the entire Middle East is the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in my view.  The rest of it is just a writhing pit of snakes.  Sorry if I seem overly wrought by this, but I increasingly loathe the Saudis.

The rift has been developing for quite a while.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/leakers-share-email-dump-targeting-182226049.html

And what of Oman or Kuwait then ?
DavidV

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Kuwait is trying to mediate the spat, while Oman has long enjoyed cordial relations with the regime in Iran, although this is very much pragmatic and rooted in history. Furthermore, Oman is quite different from the rest of the region as it follows the Ibadi sect.
Ethiomonarchist

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
The Financial Times and other reputable sources are reporting on something I heard as a rumor over the past days and seems to be confirmed that this is what caused this sudden rupture between the Saudi camp and Qatar.  It seems some 26 people including members of the Qatari royal family had gone hunting with falcons in the wilds of Iraq where there are little to no regulations on that activity.  They were promptly kidnapped by an Al Qaeda affiliate and held for ransom for many months.  It has now been revealed that Qatar paid the terrorists $1 Billion to obtain the freedom of its royals.  This is a landfall for Al Qaeda, and goes against the principle of not negotiating with terrorists.  Couple this with Qatar's long standing support of the Muslim Brotherhood, their appeasement of Iran, their interference in Libya and Sudan, they are in rather poor standing.  As you all know I am no fan of Saudi Arabia, but in this case I can no longer blame them.  This is really outrageous. (Since the Financial Times requires a subscription, I linked to the Straits Times instead).

http://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/14bn-hostage-deal-enraged-qatars-gulf-rivals-financial-times
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The Lion of Judah hath prevailed.

Ethiopia stretches her hands unto God (Quote from Psalm 68 which served as the Imperial Motto of the Ethiopian Empire)

"God and history shall remember your judgment." (Quote from Emperor Haile Selassie I's speech to the League of Nations to plead for assistance against the Italian Invasion, 1936.)
DavidV

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Keep in mind that the Al-Thani clan which is the Royal Family of Qatar, like other Arab royal families, is actually a numerically very large clan.
DavidV

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Trump supports the Gulf stance, applauded by the Saudis:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2017/06/10/Saudi-Arabia-welcomes-Trump-s-stance-on-Qatar-and-terrorism.html
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1112746/middle-east

Tillerson calls for Qatar and Saudi Arabia to bury the hatchet:
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/06/09/tillerson-says-arab-blockade-qatar-hurting-anti-isis-fight.html

UAE supports Trump and has blacklisted Islamist movements:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/06/10/UAE-welcomes-Trump-s-leadership-in-challenging-Qatar-s-support-for-extremism.html

Kuwait acts against terror suspects:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/06/10/Kuwaiti-security-forces-summon-three-citizens-included-in-terrorism-list.html

Trump's feud with Iran continues:
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/06/08/iran-rejects-trumps-condolences-after-terror-attack-calls-statement-repugnant.html
DavidV

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Turkish and Iranian backing of Qatar and American backing for Arab states seems reminiscent of the Napoleonic Era:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gulf-qatar-sanctions-idUSKBN18Z2ZU
Peter

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
The Saudi Crown Prince has effectively been sacked, and replaced by the former Deputy Crown Prince, who unprecedentedly is King Salman's own son. Unprecedented since the death of the founder ibn Saud, anyway, he was succeeded by a son but since then it has been one brother after another. The previous Crown Prince would have been a nephew succeeding his uncle, itself a radical enough move, but not nearly so much so as this development.

Add to that the youth of the new Crown Prince, in Saudi terms a suckling infant at 31 years old, and the correspondingly long reign that would be expected, and it seems reasonable to wonder whether this nomination is actually going to stick. Are all the other branches going to just placidly accept the prospect of being shut out of power for decade after decade, starting right now? The deposed Crown Prince is the King's full nephew, but at least is 57 years old, giving other lines some sort of chance of their own stint in power in a not impossibly remote future, a chance now gone.
Queenslander

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
What price a full Dynastic split coming on the horizon here. I think the odds have shortened somewhat. On the 'plus side' at least there WILL be some form of generational shift after the present King.
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DavidV

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
The Gulf state's demands to Qatar includes ending support to the Muslim Brotherhood:

https://pjmedia.com/homeland-security/2017/06/23/as-americas-arab-muslim-allies-move-against-the-muslim-brotherhood-smart-set-doubles-down-support/
DavidV

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
One must ask: why does a monarchy like Qatar shelter dangerous revolutionaries which threaten the existing order?

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2017/06/27/Qataris-paying-the-price-for-its-Emir-s-policies.html

Potential consequences for Syria, Yemen and Iraq where Gulf states back different factions:
http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/how-gulf-crisis-will-impact-fighting-ground-syria-166474783
DutchMonarchist

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Thanks for these links - the first article in particular offers a rather interesting view on the motives behind Qatar's behavior. 

Though in a way you could argue that the policies of the other Gulf States are no less contradictory than the policies of Qatar. They also finance groups with terrorist or revolutionary interests. Financing the Muslim Brotherhood seems like small beer compared to financing Islamist groups fighting in the Syria.
DavidV

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/06/28/UAE-minister-Muslim-Brotherhood-after-their-own-interests-not-Qatar.html

The UAE blacklisted the Muslim Brotherhood and its front groups such as CAIR precisely because of its sinister and subversive nature. Something that evaded Clinton and Obama?
DavidV

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
The deadline for Qatar to comply with Gulf demands is approaching as President Trump raises concerns:
 
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