Bahrain–Qatar relations

Last updated

Bahrain - Qatar relations
Bahrain Qatar Locator.png
Flag of Bahrain.svg
Bahrain 		Flag of Qatar.svg
Qatar

Bilateral relations exist between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Bahrain. They first began in 1971. [1]

Contents

On 5 June 2017, Bahrain officially cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, giving the country's diplomats 48 hours to leave. [2]

On 13 April 2023, Bahrain and Qatar officially resumed their diplomatic relations, two years after the Arab blockade on the latter was resolved. [3]

History

Bahrain and Qatar shared a similar history for belonging to the Gulf region and speak Arabic language as the first language, as well as having Islam as the state religion.

Territorial disputes

Starting in 1936, Qatar and Bahrain were involved in territorial disputes over the Hawar Islands, Fasht Al Azm, Fasht Dibal, Qit'at Jaradah, and Zubarah. In 1996, Bahrain boycotted the GCC summit hosted in Qatar, claiming that the last summit held in Qatar in 1990 was used as a platform to reiterate their territorial claims to the other GCC states. They also cited the 1986 Qatari incursion in Fasht Dibal as a reason for not attending. [4] In December 1996, two Qatari citizens, Salwa Fakhri and Fahad Al Baker, were arrested on charges of espionage in Bahrain. During the trial, it was purported that Qatar had been involved in a prior spying mission which was uncovered by Bahraini authorities in 1987. In January 1997, a member of Bahrain's ruling family, Nasser Al Khalifa, defected to Qatar in a highly publicized instance in which he flew a Bahraini military helicopter to the Qatari capital. [5]

The disputes were resolved by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 16 March 2001, giving Bahrain the Hawar Islands (excluding the Janan Island), Qit'at Jaradah, and Fasht Al Azm, with Qatar receiving Zubarah, Fasht Dibal, and the Janan Island. [6]

Zubarah

From the 19th century onward, the two countries periodically disputed the ownership of Zubarah, a town on the north-west coast of Qatar. [7] Tensions were heightened in 1939 after Qatar constructed a fort in the town; an act which was deemed illegal by Bahrain. [8] A settlement was reached in 1944 during a meeting mediated by the Saudis, in which Qatar recognized Bahrain's customary rights, such as grazing, and visiting with no formalities necessary. However, this accord was broken shortly after, following the construction of another fort by Qatar. [9]

In 1953, Bahrain reiterated its claims over Zubarah when it sent a party of students and teachers to Zubarah who proceeded to write 'Bahrain' on the walls of Zubarah Fort. Furthermore, the Bahrain Education Department published maps which alleged Bahraini sovereignty over the entire north-west coast of the peninsula. Qatar responded by stationing troops in the fort in 1954. [9] The case was resolved in Qatar's favor by the ICJ in 2001. [10]

Fasht Dibal

A dispute arose over Fasht Dibal in 1985 after Bahrain began constructing fortifications on the island. Qatar considered the construction to be a violation of an existing agreement made in 1978. [9] In April 1986, Qatari troops arrived on the island via helicopter and declared it a 'restricted zone'. They seized several Bahraini officials and 29 construction workers hired by the Dutch contracting company Ballast Nedam. [9] [11] On 12 May 1986, following protests by the Netherlands and mediation by several GCC member states, Bahrain and Qatar reached a settlement, after which the foreign workers were released. Qatari troops evacuated the island on 15 June. [11] The island was later awarded to Qatar in the aftermath of the 2001 ICJ case. [10]

Nationality controversy

In 2014, Bahrain accused Qatar of offering certain Bahraini families Qatari citizenship in exchange for dropping their Bahraini citizenship. [12] It was reported that Qatar was targeting Sunni citizens, a threat to Bahrain's demographics as the majority of the population is Shia while the ruling family is Sunni. [13] Undersecretary of Nationality, Passport and Residence Affairs of Bahrain, Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, was quoted as saying,“We are confident that Qatar, a brotherly neighbour with Bahrain, will reconsider its position on this matter because naturalising Bahrainis negatively affects the security situation and the high national interests of Bahrain.” He also claimed that being a citizen of a country part of the GCC gave citizens of one country the right to work, own property and move between the other member countries thus changing nationalities wouldn't be necessary. [14] Bahrain also claimed that it was a violation of an agreement of non-interference, signed on 17 April 2014, in the internal affairs of GCC member states. [15] On 13 August 2014, Qatar pledged to stop offering GCC nationals Qatari citizenship during a meeting of GCC foreign ministers in Jeddah. [16] Despite this, Bahrain's interior minister threatened action against Qatar and claimed that they were still engaging in these activities. [17] It was claimed that Qatar had naturalised hundreds of Bahrainis and as a result, Bahrain imposed fines on any Bahraini that accepted citizenship. [18] Qatar's Director General of Public Security of Interior Ministry Major General called the quote "inaccurate" and argued that Qatar was only attempting to naturalise citizens of Qatari origin. [19]

Ambassador controversy

On 5 March 2014, Bahrain, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, recalled its ambassador from Qatar since Qatar failed to abide by an agreement signed by the GCC states to not support groups that posed a threat to fellow GCC members. [20] On 16 November, it was reported that Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE were returning their ambassadors to Qatar following an emergency meeting in Riyadh, stating that they had reached an understanding. [21]

Embassies

Bahrain had an embassy in Doha until 2017. [22] Qatar also had an embassy in Manama until June 2017. [23] The Qatari ambassador in Bahrain until October 2016 was Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin Saud Al Abdulrahman Al-Thani. [24] The head of mission at the Bahraini embassy in Qatar is currently Nasser Faris al-Qatami, who is the charge d'affaires. [25]

Cyber attack and termination

On 3 June 2017, the Twitter account of Bahraini foreign minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa was hacked in a Qatari cyberattack. [26] Two days later, on 5 June 2017, Bahrain has announced that it will cut ties with Qatar as well. [27] Yet, Islam Hassan argues that "Insofar as Bahrain is concerned, the small Kingdom has been toeing the Saudi foreign policy for the past couple of years. It seems that their severing of ties with Qatar was mainly an answer to a Saudi call." [28] [29] In April 2023, Bahrain had restored diplomatic ties with Qatar. [30]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Qatar</span>

The history of Qatar spans from its first duration of human occupation to its formation as a modern state. Human occupation of Qatar dates back to 50,000 years ago, and Stone Age encampments and tools have been unearthed in the Arabian Peninsula. Mesopotamia was the first civilization to have a presence in the area during the Neolithic period, evidenced by the discovery of potsherds originating from the Ubaid period near coastal encampments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Qatar</span>

Foreign relations of Qatar is conducted through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Arab states were among the first to recognize Qatar, and the country gained admittance to the United Nations and the Arab League after achieving independence in 1971. The country was an early member of OPEC and a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Diplomatic missions to Qatar are based in its capital, Doha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Bahrain</span> Foreign relations

Bahrain plays a modest, moderating role in regional politics and adheres to the views of the Arab League on Middle East peace and Palestinian rights. Since achieving independence in 1971, Bahrain has maintained friendly relations with most of its neighbours and with the world community. It generally pursues a policy of close consultation with neighbouring states and works to narrow areas of disagreement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulf Cooperation Council</span> Regional trade bloc in the Middle East

The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council, is a regional, intergovernmental, political, and economic union comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The council's main headquarters is located in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The Charter of the GCC was signed on 25 May 1981, formally establishing the institution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qatar–Bahrain Causeway</span> Bridge in Bahrain and Qatar

The Qatar Bahrain Causeway was a planned causeway between the two Arab states of Qatar and Bahrain. It was also expected that a ferry service would be established between the two countries in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zubarah</span> Ruined Town in Al Shamal, Qatar

Zubarah, also referred to as Al Zubarah or Az Zubarah, is a ruined and ancient fort located on the north western coast of the Qatar peninsula in the Al Shamal municipality, about 105 km from the Qatari capital of Doha. It was founded by Shaikh Muhammed bin Khalifa, the founder father of Al Khalifa royal family of Bahrain, the main and principal Utub tribe in the first half of the eighteenth century. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qatar</span> Country in West Asia

Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country in West Asia. It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it shares its sole land border with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf. The Gulf of Bahrain, an inlet of the Persian Gulf, separates Qatar from nearby Bahrain. The capital is Doha, home to over 80% of the country's inhabitants, and the land area is mostly made up of flat, low-lying desert.

This article deals with territorial disputes between states of in and around the Persian Gulf in Southwestern Asia. These states include Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Oman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qatar–United Arab Emirates relations</span> Bilateral relations

Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) share a naval border and are part of the Arabic-speaking Persian Gulf region. They are both members of the GCC.

The international reactions to the 2011 Bahraini uprising include responses by supranational organisations, non-governmental organisations, media organisations, and both the governments and civil populaces, like of fellow sovereign states to the protests and uprising in Bahrain during the Arab Spring. The small island nation's territorial position in the Persian Gulf not only makes it a key contending regional power but also determines its geostrategic position as a buffer between the Arab World and Iran. Hence, the geostrategic implications aid in explaining international responses to the uprising in Bahrain. Accordingly, as a proxy state between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Bahrain's domestic politics is both wittingly and unavoidably shaped by regional forces and variables that determine the country's response to internal and external pressures.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the ministry responsible for handling Qatar's external relations as well as its diplomatic efforts, including the maintenance of its diplomatic missions across the globe. As a perk related to its position, the Minister of Foreign Affairs gets to set the central agenda for the nation's propaganda outlet Al-Jazeera. The current minister is Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canada–Qatar relations</span> Bilateral relations

Canada and Qatar enjoyed friendly relations and coordination on the international field, long before Qatar's Embassy opened in Ottawa in 2011, including their joint military collaboration during the Gulf War and in the international intervention in Libya. Diplomatic relations between the two nations were established in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egypt–Qatar relations</span> Bilateral relations

Egypt–Qatar relations are the bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Arab Republic of Egypt. They first began in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bahrain–Iran relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bilateral relations exist between the countries of Bahrain and Iran. Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, relations between the two countries have been strained over various geopolitical issues such as the interpretations of Islam, aspirations for leadership of the Islamic world, and relations with the United States, Europe, and other Western countries. In addition, Iran has been severely critical of Bahrain for hosting the United States Fifth Fleet within the Persian Gulf at the Naval Support Activity Bahrain base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iran–Qatar relations</span> Bilateral relations

Iran–Qatar relations refer to the bilateral relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Qatar. Iran has an embassy in Doha while Qatar has an embassy in Tehran. Qatar and Iran have close ties.

The Qatar diplomatic crisis was a diplomatic incident in the Middle East that began on 5 June 2017 when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic relations with Qatar and banned Qatar-registered planes and ships from utilising their airspace, land and sea routes, along with Saudi Arabia blocking Qatar's only land crossing, as a de facto blockade. The crisis ended in January 2021 following a resolution between Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qatar–Saudi Arabia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Saudi Arabia–Qatar relations refers to the current and historical relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar. Prior to 2017, the two countries maintained cordial ties. Qatar was mainly subservient to Saudi Arabia in matters relating to foreign policy. Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani's assumption of power saw Qatar reclaim its sovereignty in foreign affairs, often diverging from Saudi Arabia on many geopolitical issues. In 1996, the Qatari government launched Al Jazeera in a bid to consolidate soft power. One of the most watched news stations in the Arab world, Al Jazeera proved to be a wedge in the two's bilateral relations as it routinely criticized Saudi Arabia's ruler. The network also provided a platform for Islamist groups which are considered a threat to Saudi Arabia's monarchy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qatar–Saudi Arabia diplomatic conflict</span> Diplomatic issue between Qatar and Saudi Arabia

The Qatar–Saudi Arabia diplomatic conflict refers to the ongoing struggle for regional influence between Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), both of which are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It is sometimes called the New Arab Cold War. Bilateral relations are especially strained since the beginning of the Arab Spring, that left a power vacuum both states sought to fill, with Qatar being supportive of the revolutionary wave and Saudi Arabia opposing it. Both states are allies of the United States, and have avoided direct conflict with one another.

This is a list of notable events that occurred in 2017 in Qatar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 Qatari coup d'état attempt</span>


The 1996 Qatari coup d'état attempt was an attempted coup in Qatar against Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani that was foiled on the night of February 14, 1996, less than one year into Hamad bin Khalifa's reign. Qatari intelligence termed the coup attempt as "Operation Abu Ali".

References

  1. ↑ "Bilateral Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "Saudi Arabia cuts ties to Qatar, cites 'terrorism'". www.khaleejtimes.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  3. ↑ "Bahrain and Qatar to restore diplomatic ties". www.reuters.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  4. ↑ Thomas Hussain (7 December 1996). "Dispute overshadows Gulf Arabs meeting". UPI. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  5. ↑ Colin Young (March 1997). "Bahrain-Qatar relations at lowest ebb". UK Defense Forum. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  6. ↑ Wiegand, Krista E. (2012). "Bahrain, Qatar, and the Hawar Islands: Resolution of a Gulf Territorial Dispute". Middle East Journal. 66 (1): 79–96. doi:10.3751/66.1.14. JSTOR   41342770.
  7. ↑ "'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Bahrein Affairs, 1854-1904' [36] (55/204)". qdl.qa. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "'File 19/243 III (C 95) Zubarah' [78r] (166/462)". qdl.qa. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Crystal, Jill (1995). Oil and Politics in the Gulf: Rulers and Merchants in Kuwait and Qatar. Cambridge University Press. pp. 165–166. ISBN   978-0521466356.
  10. 1 2 "Maritime Delimitation and Territorial Questions between Qatar and Bahrain (Qatar v. Bahrain)". International Court of Justice. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  11. 1 2 Brecher, Michael; Wilkenfeld, Jonathan (1997). A Study of Crisis . University of Michigan Press. p. 654. ISBN   978-0472087075.
  12. ↑ "Bahrain warns its citizens over Qatar nationality offer". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "Bahrain: Qatar naturalising citizens threatens Manama". Al Arabiya. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  14. ↑ "Qatar naturalisation of Bahrainis criticised". Gulf News. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  15. ↑ "Bahrain seething over Qatar snatching its citizens". Al Bawaba. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  16. ↑ "Qatar agrees to stop offering citizenship to GCC nationals". Asharq Al-Awsat. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  17. ↑ "Bahrain minister threatens action against Qatar over nationality spat". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  18. ↑ "Bahrain warns Qatar over citizenship dispute". Asharq Al-Awsat. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  19. ↑ "Doha 'to continue observing naturalisation laws'". Gulf News. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  20. ↑ "UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain recall their ambassadors from Qatar". Gulf News. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  21. ↑ "Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain end rift with Qatar, return ambassadors". Reuters. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  22. ↑ "Bahrain Embassy in Qatar". Visa HQ. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  23. ↑ "Embassy of Qatar in Manama, Bahrain". Embassy Pages. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  24. ↑ Emir instructors 17 ambassadors to return to Qatar. Doha News. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  25. ↑ Emir gets invitation to attend GCC summit. Gulf Times. Published 29 November 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  26. ↑ "Bahrain minister briefly hacked after Qatar cyber attack". Phys.org. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  27. ↑ "Bahrain announces it is cutting ties with Qatar". Al Arabiya. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  28. ↑ "Qatar Pursues an Independent Foreign Policy that Clashes with the Saudi's Strategic Interests". Eurasia Diary. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  29. ↑ "Saudi Diplomatic Offensive on Qatar to Barely Impact Anti-Terror Fight in Region". Sputnik International. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  30. ↑ "Bahrain and Qatar Restore Diplomatic Ties". United States Department of State. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.