Kuwait Emir warns Gulf crisis will escalate

The Kuwaiti Emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, has warned that the Gulf crisis between Qatar and the five rival countries may escalate.

Speaking at a parliament session in Kuwait, the Emir warned of the potential repercussions of the crisis.

Remarking on his country’s efforts to mediate between the countries he said that Kuwait is keen to bridge the gap between them and avoid a crisis.

“Everyone should know that Kuwait’s mediation is based on a keen awareness that this crisis risks escalation,” the Emir said.

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“The collapse of the Gulf Cooperation Council will be a collapse of the last bastions of Arab cooperation,” he said.

The Emir of Kuwait has recently visited Saudi Arabia where he met King Salman and discussed the Gulf summit.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has also recently visited Saudi Arabia and Qatar, however his efforts have failed to break the deadlock.

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Al-Araby Al-Jadeed quoted well-informed Gulf sources as saying that the visits of the Emir of Kuwait and Tillerson to Saudi Arabia failed to convince Riyadh officials to start a dialogue with Doha.

According to the sources, Saudi officials told the Emir of Kuwait and Tillerson that the blockade against Qatar is a “long-term strategy”.