Gulf Arab leaders sign declaration to ease rift

AL-ULA, SAUDI ARABIA » Gulf Arab leaders signed a declaration Tuesday to ease a rift with Qatar, following Saudi Arabia’s decision to end a 3 ½-year embargo of the tiny energy-rich country that deeply divided regional U. S. security allies and frayed social ties across the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia also said itwas restoring full diplomatic relations with Qatar, although it was not clear how soon the step would be followed by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, which had joined the kingdom in isolating the country over its regional policies. On Monday night, the eve of the Gulf Arab leaders’ summit in the ancient desert city of AlUla, the Saudis announced they would open the kingdom’s airspace and borders to Qatar, the first major step toward ending the diplomatic crisis that began in2017, when the Trump administration was starting to raise pressure on Iran. It was unclear what, if any, significant concessions Qatar hadmade before the summit.