Despite the intensive and relentless attempts made by Kuwait over the past three years to heal the Gulf rift resulting from the imposition of a land, sea and air blockade on Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt behind it, no actual breakthrough occurred.

However, the past few days carried indications that observers and political analysts described as positive, with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Sabah announcing, last Friday, that "fruitful" discussions took place during the past period to resolve the Gulf crisis.

Al-Sabah clarified that these talks "in which all parties affirmed their keenness on Gulf and Arab solidarity and stability, and to reach a final agreement that would achieve what they aspire for in terms of permanent solidarity between their countries, and to achieve what is good for their people."

Since June 5, 2017, the four countries have imposed a blockade on Qatar, claiming its support for terrorism, at a time when Doha denies these accusations and considers them an attempt to undermine its sovereignty and its independent decision.

Concerned countries

Hours after the Kuwaiti statement was issued, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said that his country looks "with great appreciation for the efforts of the sisterly State of Kuwait to bridge the gap in viewpoints regarding the Gulf crisis," and thanked "the American efforts in this regard."

He added - in his tweet on Twitter - "We look forward to the Kuwaiti and American efforts being crowned with success for the benefit and good of the region."

He also said in his intervention at the Mediterranean Forum that "remarkable progress has been made regarding the Gulf crisis thanks to the Kuwaiti and American efforts, and we hope that this development will lead to a final agreement," adding, "Of course, we are optimistic because we are close to putting the final touches on an agreement between all Gulf countries in order to reach an agreement." A satisfactory solution for everyone. "

The statement of the State of Kuwait is an important step towards solving the Gulf crisis.

We thank the brotherly Kuwait for its mediation since the beginning of the crisis. We also appreciate the American efforts made in this regard, and we affirm that our priority has been and will remain the interest and security of the peoples of the Gulf and the region.

- Muhammad bin Abdulrahman (@MBA_AlThani_) December 4, 2020

In turn, Qatar rushed to comment on the Kuwaiti move, as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said - in his tweet on Twitter - that "the statement of the State of Kuwait is an important step towards resolving the Gulf crisis."

"We thank the brotherly Kuwait and its mediation since the beginning of the crisis, and we also appreciate the American efforts made in this regard, and we affirm that our priority has been and will remain the interest and security of the Gulf peoples and the region," he added.

Silence and comment

After a suspicious silence that lasted for about 5 days, the Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said Tuesday - in a tweet to him on Twitter - “The UAE appreciates the efforts of Kuwait and the American efforts towards strengthening solidarity in the Arab Gulf, and supports the good Saudi efforts on behalf of the four countries, and confirms that relations The Cooperation Council with brotherly Egypt is an essential pillar in preserving Arab security and stability in the region, and it looks forward to a successful Gulf summit.

In a remarkable paradox, and only a few hours after the Emirati position had passed, the first Egyptian comment was issued on the Kuwaiti statement, whereby the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ahmed Hafez, expressed Egypt's appreciation for the continued efforts made by Kuwait and its Emir to heal the Arab rift and settle the crisis that erupted for several years between Qatar And the countries of the Arab Quartet, within the framework of Kuwait’s role and its constant desire for stability in the Arab region.

Hafez said, "We hope in this regard that these praiseworthy endeavors will result in a comprehensive solution that addresses all the causes of this crisis and ensures strict and serious commitment to what will be agreed upon. Egypt affirms in this regard, based on its responsibilities and position, that it always puts in the foreground the preservation of solidarity, stability and security." Arabi".

The UAE is not satisfied

While Bahrain has not yet commented, at least so far, on the Kuwaiti efforts, political analyst and professor of international relations Dr. Ali Bakir said, "To the moment, it seems that the basic regularity in the solution efforts is between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and the UAE does not seem satisfied with this situation."

Bakir added - in statements to Al-Jazeera Net - "Abu Dhabi has previously obstructed previous efforts in this path and it seems that it will return the ball again. Therefore, the expectation of a decline in the positive path of negotiations may remain until reconciliation takes place and the fait accompli is imposed."

Bakir also said, "I do not think that the Egyptian side opposes reconciliation, but it will submit to Emirati pressure to oppose reconciliation in the event that it actually takes place between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, because Abu Dhabi does not want to become isolated, and that is why Egypt will use it as a card to support its position and it has already done that in many files." ".

Slight advance

Bakir believed that there was little progress that had taken place in the right place, which was ultimately reflected in positive statements from the parties directly related to the issue, namely Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, but this does not mean that a solution has been reached, as there are still obstacles that need To a settlement, including the issue of timing, for example, "Will it take place in the remaining few days of the administration of US President Donald Trump or will it be announced at the beginning of the administration of US President-elect Joe Biden?"

He pointed out that there are attempts to move forward with the settlement efforts, which are mainly driven by the Trump administration and his adviser Jared Kushner, considering at the same time that the main factor in these attempts is due to changes in the American interior, as the administration that is preparing to leave wants to record the achievement of The solution and the Gulf reconciliation is among its list of accomplishments. Perhaps this would be an ammunition for Trump or Kushner's candidacy for the next presidential elections after 4 years.

Bakir pointed out that "on the other hand, with regard to the next US administration, the expected pressure from Biden to rectify matters may push Saudi Arabia to rush to resolve some of the outstanding issues and files, including the Gulf crisis."

"Wood grinder"

For his part, Professor of Political Science at Kuwait University Abdullah Al-Shayji said, "The first indication that the firewood has been destroyed (meaning the crisis and disagreement has ended), and we have started with the steps of Gulf reconciliation, and turning the page of the crisis is to calm the media exchange between the parties to the dispute, followed by the details of opening the borders. And the airspace, Qatar dropped the cases, and reconciliation in the Gulf summit in the presence of high-ranking officials.

Al-Shayji added - in a series of tweets to him on Twitter - after the release of Gargash’s comment, that there is a remarkable and important development and a turning point that heralds a jump on the zero equation, considering that all parties, led by Saudi Arabia, have agreed to solve the Gulf crisis before the upcoming Gulf summit in Bahrain, but “the question remains: Will A collective agreement or a step-by-step agreement?

According to Agence France-Presse, analysts previously indicated that any breakthrough would only include bilateral relations between Riyadh and Doha, and would exclude the UAE in particular, which has been the biggest critic of Doha since the start of the crisis, but the statements of the Saudi Foreign Minister may mean - according to the agency - that the solution may be The most comprehensive.

Al-Shayji said, "Constructive ambiguity still prevails in the situation 4 days after Kuwait announced a breakthrough to resolve the Gulf crisis and optimistic official statements from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and today (yesterday) tweets from the Emirates and Egypt confirmed that Saudi Arabia expresses the Quartet, and that they support Kuwait's efforts, appreciate them and welcome them." Out to heal the rift. We hope so. "

Divergence between allies

Observers stopped at the apparent discrepancy between the pillars of the "quartet" in the absence of a Bahraini comment, in addition to the delay in the official Emirati and Egyptian comments on the Kuwaiti statement, and they referred to a series of positions and tweets by those close to the circles of power in both countries that seemed "not welcome" to what the scene witnessed. Gulf during the past days.

Emirati academic Abdul Khaleq Abdullah sparked widespread controversy on Twitter following a tweet in which he said that the Gulf reconciliation train would not move a single millimeter without the knowledge, approval and blessing of the UAE first, as he put it.

In turn, former Egyptian parliament member Imad Gad said - in press statements - that Saudi Arabia has taken a unilateral position in reconciling with Qatar, adding that "the Egyptian position is now far from the atmosphere of reconciliation."

Gad added that Egypt's demands "were not taken into consideration, and it seems that the same applies to the Emirates and Bahrain," ruling out at the same time the existence of coordination between the Quartet in the current reconciliation.

Gulf sources had warned, according to a report published by the "BBC", that the initiative led by Kuwait and the United States might falter if Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt were unable to agree on how to resolve the dispute with Qatar.

Place of reconciliation

Several days ago, the Kuwaiti newspaper, Al-Rai, quoted a diplomatic source as saying that "the Gulf reconciliation will take place at the Gulf summit meeting to be held in the Kingdom of Bahrain (in principle) this month, and the page of the dispute will be closed."

The source pointed out that the points of disagreement, requests and conditions that were talked about during the age of the crisis, which exceeded 3 years, "will be discussed in special Gulf committees in an effort to find solutions to them in a way that guarantees their non-renewal and the continuity of the cohesion of the Gulf and Arab system."

Positions and statements

The Sultanate of Oman welcomed the Kuwaiti statement, saying that the Kuwaiti and American efforts in this regard reflect the keenness of all parties for Gulf and Arab solidarity and stability, with the aim of reaching a final agreement that achieves lasting solidarity among all countries.

As for the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf, he indicated in turn that the statement of the State of Kuwait regarding strengthening Gulf solidarity reflects the strength and cohesion of the Council.

Last Monday, the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, made a phone call to the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, during which he expressed his praise and appreciation for Kuwait's efforts to preserve the Gulf unity.

According to Kuwait News Agency, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad expressed his thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad for the efforts made by Kuwait to preserve the Gulf unity, and to support and strengthen the unity of brothers in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

For its part, the Qatar News Agency stated that the Emir of Qatar praised, during the call, the efforts initiated by the late Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to contain the crisis, and his constant concern for the unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the interests of his people.

Earlier, the Emir of Kuwait expressed his satisfaction at what he described as the historic achievement that was achieved in reaching a final agreement to resolve the Gulf dispute.

The Emir of Kuwait sent two letters of thanks to the Emir of Qatar and the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz, for their efforts to contain the Gulf crisis and reach a final agreement.

Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah said that "the Gulf crisis has been closed and a final agreement has been reached between the Gulf parties," adding, "This agreement will have to enter into the details related to it soon."

Al-Jarallah added in a televised statement that "there are close steps that will be announced to move towards the future and turn the page on the disagreement," praising the efforts of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad and the Emir of the country Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and the US efforts in this field.

Also commenting on these developments, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the time has come to resolve the Gulf dispute, stressing that he hopes that the Gulf reconciliation will take place because it is important to the peoples of the countries of the region.