US to visit Saudi-bloc over Gulf-Qatar rift

The United States’ Secretary of State has started a diplomatic tour across the Middle East to ease tensions over the Qatar rift.

Rex Tillerson is blaming the Saudi Arabian-led alliance for not engaging in dialogue with Qatar. Qatar has shown eagerness to enter into negotiations.

“There seems to be a real unwillingness on the part of some of the parties to want to engage,” Tillerson told Bloomberg. “It’s up to the leadership of the quartet when they want to engage with Qatar because Qatar has been very clear – they’re ready to engage.”

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt placed a boycott on Qatar in June, accusing it of supporting terrorism and extremism. Qatar denies the accusations claiming the move is an attack on its sovereignty.

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Kuwait continues to attempt to solve the Gulf-rift through mediation. Kuwaiti foreign minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah arrived in Doha yesterday to discuss the rift.

Tillerson’s tour will include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Switzerland and India and will conclude on 27 October.