US, UK, Kuwait all call for Qatar row to come to halt
US worries the crisis could affect its military and counter-terrorism operations.
By REUTERS, JPOST.COM STAFFUpdated: JULY 11, 2017 09:32A map of Qatar is seen in this picture illustration June 5, 2017(photo credit: REUTERS)
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is currently on a four day visit to Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia in an effort to find a breakthrough in the ongoing Qatar diplomatic crises, the four day visit is to end on Friday.In a joint statement with British National Security Advisor Mark Sedwill, Tillerson urged all parties to the Gulf Arab diplomatic row to resolve their dispute as quickly as possible through dialog, Kuwait state news agency KUNA reported on Tuesday.The American and British officials visited Kuwait, which is acting as a mediator, to find a way out of the discord among the Western-allied countries.The plea for a negotiated solution may aim at an earlier refusal by Qatar's adversaries to discuss renewing ties with Doha until it first acquiesced to a list of stiff demands.Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE and Egypt imposed sanctions last month, accusing Doha of aiding terrorism, something it denies.The State Department said Tillerson would hold talks with leaders in Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.Riyadh and its allies accuse Qatar of financing extremist groups and allying with Iran, the Gulf Arab states' arch-foe.Qatar denies that it supports militant organizations and says the boycott is part of a campaign to rein in Qatar's independent foreign policy.The United States worries the crisis could affect its military and counter-terrorism operations and increase the regional influence of Tehran, which has been supporting Qatar by allowing it to use air and sea links through its territory.Qatar hosts Udeid Air Base, the largest US military facility in the Middle East, from which US-led coalition aircraft stage sorties against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.