Saudi Arabia to end blockade on Qatar: Kuwait

Saudi Arabia will reopen its borders and airspace to Qatar, the Kuwaiti foreign minister said, more than three years after Riyadh sealed both and led an alliance to isolate Doha.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab Staff & Agencies

04 January, 2021

After severing ties, the four countries issued a list of 13 demands to Qatar (Getty)

Saudi Arabia will reopen its borders and airspace to Qatar, the Kuwaiti foreign minister said Monday, more than three years after Riyadh sealed both and led an alliance to isolate Doha.

"Based on (Kuwait's ruler Emir) Sheikh Nawaf's proposal, it was agreed to open the airspace and land and sea borders between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar, starting from this evening," said Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Ahmad Nasser Al-Sabah on state TV.

In June 2017, Saudi Arabia and its allies - the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt - cut ties with Qatar, claiming it was too close to Iran and accused it of funding radical Islamist movements - charges Doha staunchly denies.

After severing ties, the four countries issued a list of 13 demands to Qatar, including the shuttering of broadcaster Al Jazeera.

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