Blog: OCIN the Cloud: Slight changes in the magnetic field between Saudi, Qatar and UAE (1/2)

*You can read full text as follows.
http://ocininitiative.maeda1.jp/Dec2019GccSummitEnglish.pdf

(Arabic Version)
(Japanese Version)

December 2019

Amir of Qatar didn’t attend GCC Summit

The annual GCC summit, which brings together GCC leaders from six countries, was held on December 10 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In response to King Salman's call, Amir of Kuwait and King of Bahrain joined the meeting. Amir of UAE and Sultan of Oman are in poor health. Therefore, UAE was attended by Shaikh Muhammad Al-Maktoum, the Vice President and the ruler of Dubai. From Oman the First Deputy Prime Minister attended the Summit. In case of Oman, Sultan Qaboos, who is also the prime minister, left Belgium for a medical check just before the meeting and returned home on the 14^th of December[1]. Qatar drew attention to whether the Amir Shaikh Tamim Al-Thani would be present at the Summit. Prime Minister, Abdullah Al-Thani, was in attendance in place of the Amir[2].

Qatari Amir Shaikh Tamim Al-Thani is 40 years old, born in 1979. He is the most young and healthy leader among the six countries. He should have no problem to attend the Summit. In contrast, Kuwaiti Amir of 90-year-old had been hospitalized several times in the past. And he again hospitalized in US in this September. His depression is clearly noticeable in the recent pictures. But the Kuwaiti Amir who was eager to keep the GCC unity attended the summit pushing aside his illness.

GCC magnetic fields: attracting Saudi and UAE attract, repelling Saudi / UAE and Qatar

Qatari Amir's absence in the Summit was because that Saudi Arabia and UAE disconnected the diplomatic ties with Qatar two years ago. Bahrain and Egypt joined the rupture with Saudi Arabia and UAE. Four countries confronted Qatar 13 requests including to reduce the level of diplomatic relations with Iran, to cut off relations with the Muslim Brotherhood, to close Al Jazeera, and to withdraw immediately Turkish troops from Qatar. They were too oppressive to accept for Qatar. Two partied have been severing the relation until now.

Crown Prince both in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, the same name Mohammad, are tightly united to defeat their mutual enemy, Iran. This is the common basis to rupture Qatar. Also in Yemeni civil war, Saudi Arabia and UAE support the UN-approved Hadi government and battle a proxy war with Iran, which supports the rebel Houthi. This means that Saudi Arabia and UAE are strongly attracting in the magnetic field activating in GCC. On the contrary Qatar and two nations are repelling each other.

Kuwaiti Amir rushes to mediation

The United States and Kuwait are very much concerned about the turmoil inside GCC. US President Donald Trump deems GCC as the first shield to oppress Iran, which is the biggest threat to Israel in the region. But GCC themselves are fragile. The United States, therefore, has its own air force base in Qatar and naval base in Bahrain. In addition, US sent 3,000 troops to Saudi Arabia recently due to a drone attack at oil facilities of Saudi Aramco[3]. The United States cannot overlook the conflict between Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Kuwait had a bitter experience of being raped by Hussein of Iraq. Kuwait is keenly aware of the need for GCC to unite against external enemies. It is the reason why Amir Shaikh Sabah mediates GCC brother countries despite his own serious health condition. He was even trying to get in touch with President Trump during his stay for medical care in US this September[4].

(To be Continued----)

By Areha Kazuya

E-mail: Arehakazuya1@gmail.com

[1] His Majesty the Sultan leaves for Belgium for medical check-up

2019/12/8 Muscat Daily

https://muscatdaily.com/Oman/385511/His-Majesty-the-Sultan-leaves-for-Belgium-for-medical-check-up

and

His Majesty the Sultan returns from Belgium

2019/12/14 Muscat Daily

https://muscatdaily.com/Oman/385575/His-Majesty-the-Sultan-returns-from-Belgium

[2] GCC summit calls for greater economic and defense unity among Gulf countries

2019.12.10 Arab News

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1596771/saudi-arabia

[3] Deployment of 3,000 US troops to Saudi Arabia almost complete

2019/11/19 Arab News