Efforts to Resolve the Gulf Crisis as a “Gift to Biden”

Saudi Arabia has stepped up its efforts to resolve its deadlock with Qatar for more than three years, due to “sponsorship of Islamic groups by Doha and its proximity to Iran”, in a move described by the Financial Times as a gift to the president. elected, Joe Biden.

The US newspaper noted that “Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman feels in the crossfire, and wants to win the administration of the president-elect, especially in light of the diplomatic crisis that Riyadh is experiencing due to the arrest of dozens of activists and businessmen, as well as the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, two years ago in Istanbul. According to the newspaper. “

The newspaper cited advisers from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as “a gift to Biden,” adding that “talks have been held with the mediation between the United States and Kuwait to lay the groundwork for direct negotiations between Saudi Arabia. and Qatar “.

A diplomat familiar with the talks explained that “Doha wants to ensure that there are no preconditions in this regard, under threat of not initiating bilateral talks”, revealing that “the measures may result in the lifting of the air embargo, allowing the movement of citizens , after they prevented Qataris from entering Saudi Arabia, the Emirates. ” And other countries. “Reconciliation can also include an agreement to send natural gas from Qatar to Bahrain.

For his part, Saudi analyst Ali Al-Shihabi said: “The Kingdom is open to finding solutions to its relationship with Doha,” noting that “it has been working to close a number of burning files for some time.”

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi had drawn up a list of 13 demands to lift the siege of Doha at the time, mostly by restricting the relationship with Tehran, closing a Turkish military base and ceasing to broadcast Al-Jazeera, but a new agreement will replace it in preparation. for the “path of reconciliation”, according to Kuwaiti mediators.

On the other hand, the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Washington, Yousef Al-Otaiba, stressed last week that “ending the conflict is not a priority, and that the differences with Qatar concern the future direction of the Middle East” . “.

Egypt and Bahrain joined Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in boycotting diplomatic relations with Qatar and assisting the movement, in June 2017.