Qatar may benefit from Khashoggi fallout

Doha: Global diplomatic fallout from the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia’s Istanbul consulate may help Qatar in its political stand-off with the kingdom, experts said.

The backlash may force Riyadh to ease sweeping sanctions imposed on Doha since the dispute erupted between the former Gulf allies in June 2017.

The killing of Khashoggi – who was critical of the Saudi government and its blockade of Qatar – may convince sceptics that Doha’s claims of Saudi “aggression” were justified, according to analysts.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the Qataris could indirectly benefit from what’s happening right now,” said Dr Andreas Krieg, of King’s College London and former adviser to Qatar’s military.

“The Saudis have to make concessions.”

For the past 16 months, regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia – the only country that shares a land border with Qatar – has led Arab allies in isolating the small, gas- rich emirate.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt froze all diplomatic ties with Doha, accusing it of cosying up to Riyadh’s regional rival Teheran and supporting radical militant groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood.

Economic activity between the former allies has practically seized, while Qatari planes have been banned from using Saudi airspace and that of other countries.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain also banned their citizens from travelling to Qatar as part of the boycott.

Doha, which denies the allegations of supporting militant groups and being too close to Iran, accuses its former allies of seeking regime change.

“I think if the US government wants to end the Qatar crisis it can exert leverage over the Saudis as a bargaining chip in relation to Khashoggi’s death,” Kristian Ulrichsen, a fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute, said. — AFP