Bahrain, Qatar agree to restore ties after boycott

DUBAI — The Gulf nations of Bahrain and Qatar agreed to restore diplomatic relations late on Wednesday.

Bahrain and Qatar each issued official statements announcing the decision to restore relations following a meeting between their delegations at the headquarters of the Gulf Cooperation Council, a six-nation bloc of which both are members, in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

The neighbors "decided to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries according to the principles of the United Nations charter", a Qatari foreign ministry statement said.

"The two sides affirmed that this step stems from the mutual desire to develop bilateral relations and enhance Gulf unity and integration," it added.

Bahrain's foreign ministry released a similar statement, the country's state news agency reported.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates imposed a blockade in 2017, accusing Qatar of supporting extremist groups in the region, allegations that Qatar denied.

The four nations had severed all ties with Qatar. And at the height of the crisis, there was even talk of digging a trench along the 87-kilometer border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia and filling it with nuclear waste.

The four countries banned Qatari planes and ships from using their airspace and territorial waters.

The boycott had little impact on Qatar's economy. The Gulf country, which hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is one of the wealthiest countries in the world owing to its vast natural gas reserves. Turkiye stepped in to aid Qatar during the crisis.

The boycott was lifted at the start of 2021, and Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE restored ties with Qatar, with top leaders paying official visits in recent months.

UAE and Qatari officials held their latest reconciliation meeting last week, with a Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson describing a "positive atmosphere".

Wednesday's agreement comes amid region-wide efforts by longtime enemies to repair relations following years of war and unrest sparked by the 2011 protests.

Last month, Saudi Arabia and its main regional rival Iran agreed to restore diplomatic ties that had been severed in 2016, in an agreement brokered by China.

Agencies Via Xinhua