A Saudi-Qatari conflict to bring Iraq into their political and economic camp

November 28, 2018

Baghdad - Agencies

In light of the continuing crisis in the Gulf and its two Saudi and Qatar and the disappearance of the indicators of access to solutions between the two neighboring countries, they both found the need to gain Iraq to its political and economic camp, they seek to include Baghdad at their core at a time Baghdad stresses its need to help the two countries to get rid of the effects of destruction caused by the organization " "In Sunni areas.

On November 7, a Qatari delegation led by Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani visited the Iraqi capital Baghdad and met with the heads of the republic, ministers and parliament to discuss relations between the two countries.

Three days after Qatar's foreign minister arrived in Baghdad, Saudi Oil Minister Khalid al-Faleh arrived in Doha at a time when relations between Riyadh and Doha have been strained since June 2017.

But what confirms that Doha is trying to compete and hit Riyadh in Iraq, those meetings held by the Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani while in Baghdad with leaders in the popular crowd, and invited them to visit Doha.

In the context of Saudi-Qatari polarization in the region, each is seeking closer to Iraq. At a time when Iraq is planning to cut its supply of energy from Iran, both Riyadh and Doha find an opportunity to be Tehran's alternative to this issue.

Not only that, some of the Sunni blocs in Iraq funded or supported by Saudi Arabia and Qatar compete with each other for the post of defense minister in the government of Adel Abdul-Mahdi, which is likely to be rivalry between the two Gulf countries also against this file.

Qatar supports former parliament speaker Salim al-Jubouri as defense minister in the government of Adel Abdul Mahdi, while Saudi Arabia is working to be a candidate from the National Coalition led by Iyad Allawi or parties that do not have a relationship with Turkey and Qatar.

"Saudi Arabia has had difficulties creating its allies in Iraq, so it seeks to find Shiite leaders who criticize Iran, while Qatar has strong relations and leaders in the popular crowd," said researcher Rathad Mansour in London. As well as in the Sunni national axis as well as close to Iran. "

"Iraq must balance its relationship, and it can not be on both sides of the equation in the midst of the Saudi-Qatari conflict, especially since it does not have one foreign policy, so different actors will work more closely with one side or the other."

That the visit of Saudi and Qatari delegations to Iraq at the same time, can point at the same time: the elimination of the return of relations between the two Gulf states in the short term, and the importance of Iraq as neutral player in the region and a market ready for energy and gas.


http://www.aljournal.com/صراع-سعودي-قطري-لضم-العراق-الى-معسكرهم/