Talks best way to settle Arab nations' row

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recently severed their diplomatic ties with Qatar, highlighting once again the turbulence engulfing the Middle East.

The discord between Saudi Arabia and its allies on the one hand, and Qatar on the other, stems not only from the conflict between Riyadh's efforts to maintain its leadership in the Gulf Cooperation Council and Doha's "ambitions", but also from intermingled sectarian and economic interests, and the changed demographic structures in some Middle East countries.

That Saudi government feels the need to present to the outside world a more resolute image and US President Donald Trump has hinted at changing the United States' policy toward the Middle East might also be responsible for the diplomatic rows.