Trump plans talks to solve Qatar issue

GULF LEADERS TO MEET US PRESIDENT IN MARCH AND APRIL, US OFFICIAL SAYS

S enior Saudi, UAE and Qatari leaders will meet with US President Donald Trump in the next couple of months, US officials said, amid efforts by Washington to try to resolve a dispute between the Gulf neighbours.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, and Qatar’s Emir Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani are all planning to have bilateral visits with Trump in March and April, a senior US official said.

The agenda will include setting up a Gulf Cooperation Council summit, the official said, which Washington hopes will be held later this year, as well as Middle East peace and Iran.

Groundworks for summit

The UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, cut off travel and trade ties with Qatar on June 5 for its support for terrorism and Iran’s agenda.

Washington is hoping to lay the groundwork for a summit by the summer.

“We would hope the dispute is resolved before the summit to allow maximum focus on other strategic concerns like Iran,” another US official said.

Earlier this month, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain said Qatar was aware of what it should do to solve the crisis that has hit the Gulf.

“The solution to the crisis lies with the brothers in Qatar. Our principles are no to terrorism, no to its financing, no to support of extremism and hatred, and no to interference in the affairs of other countries … and we expect the brothers in Qatar to respond to our demands and proposals,” Adel Al Jubeir, Saudi foreign minister, was quoted by Kuwaiti daily Al Rai on February 15.

The agenda will include setting up a Gulf Cooperation Council summit, the official said, which Washington hopes will be held later this year, as well as Middle East peace and Iran.