The Washington Post has highlighted the success of the strong Qatari stance in facing the blockading countries, pointing out that the four nations have failed to harm Qatar.
The strong stance taken by Qatar against Saudi bullying has shown the world that there are limits to “Saudi-UAE” leadership in the region, according to a report in The Washington Post yesterday.
“After hosting dozens of Arab and Muslim leaders for President Trump’s summit, Saudi Arabia and the UAE evidently expected a rapid victory over Qatar and widespread regional support. It has not worked out that way,” the article said. “The effort to demonstrate Saudi-UAE hegemony over the Gulf Co-operation Council and the Arab Middle East has instead demonstrated the continuing divisions of the regional order.”
The analysis written by Marc Lynch, a professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University, said: “Saudi Arabia and the UAE radically overstated their prospects for success and failed to have a plausible plan B in case things did not go to plan. The anti-Qatar quartet seems to have overestimated Qatari fears of isolation from the GCC and their own ability to inflict harm on their neighbour.”
The article noted that the economic boycott could only “marginally” hurt one of the riches nations in the world. “Military threats had little effect once the US military made it clear that it had no interest in UAE suggestions that it move the US air base from Qatar.”
The piece also said the demand to shut down Al Jazeera “attracted widespread global condemnation as an assault on media freedom”.
Lynch said it was “remarkable” that the Saudis could not expand its anti-Qatar coalition to beyond Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain.
The Saudi move has also backfired because it allowed Iran to improve its relations not only with Qatar but also with Oman and Kuwait, the professor said.
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