Second Qatar Crisis: Causes and Possible Solutions

... Moreover, Muscat refused to back Saudi Arabia’s campaign against Saleh and the Houthis in Yemen, instead deciding to take a neutral stance in the conflict, a decision that Riyadh was inclined to view as pro-Houthi. Another country to have broken from the GCC’s ranks and challenge the Saudis’ leading role was Kuwait. It also refrained from any military involvement in Yemen, trying to mediate the conflict. This action resulted in the Oman and Kuwait monarchs jointly inviting Hassan Rouhani to Muscat and El Kuwait respectively. The visit took place in February 2017, and becoming yet another challenge to Riyadh’s authority. The possibility of Qatar joining this duo threatened Saudi ...