Note4Students/Syllabus Mapping: GS2

The ongoing Qatar crisis threatens to unsettle the regional stability of West Asia along with its multiplier repercussions in the dynamics of the geo-politic of the region. The stability of the west Asian region is not only critical in itself but also plays a crucial role in India’s Look west policy. The stakes are high. The West Asian region deeply mired in Syrian crisis and the deep Sunni-Shia  rivalry of Iran and Saudi has always been a favorite topic for UPSC and Qatar crisis with its implications on India definitely makes it a potential hot topic for 2017 CSE Mains in the context of global geo politics.

 

Qatar Crisis –Issues in context?

1. Qatar crisis is the manifestation of the diplomatic breakdown between Qatar and Saudi Arabia and its allies in the west Asian region that threatens to upset the stability of the region.
2. Four Arab countries out of which three are also the members of Gulf Cooperation Council – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain along with Egypt  have cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar as well as suspended land, sea, air travel routes to and from the country.
3. Libya, Yemen and Maldives have also joined the diplomatic boycott.
4. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have handed over a list of 13-point demand list to the Qatari regime
5. The list reportedly demands Qatar to conclude all trade ties with Iran, end military cooperation with Turkey and shut down the Al Jazeera news network.
6. Qatar is however, reluctant to comply with the conditions made by GCC and has remarked the ‘demands’ as ‘non-negotiable’.

 

Trigger points  for Qatar Crisis:

1. Qatar has been accused by Saudi Arab of supporting radical Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and the ISIS- over the issue of its state sponsored terrorism.
2. Tensions between Qatar and its neighboring countries doubled when the state-run news agency of Qatar ‘Al  Jazeera’ published an article in which the Qatar’s ruling emir, Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad Al Thani was quoted praising Israel and Iran – Saudi Arab’s biggest rivals in the region.
3. The growing closeness of Qatar’s ruling emir and Iran is a sticky point which undermines the hegemony of Saudi Arabia in the region.
4. Qatar’s exclusive and independent foreign policy in the region is a sticking point for Saudi Arabia and its allies, challenging its political clout in the region.

Qatar’s perspective:

1. Amid the ongoing Qatar crisis, Doha has recently implied that although they are looking forward to work together with other Gulf nations, they are reluctant to discuss any measures that impinge the sovereignty of Qatar.
2. Qatar denies that it supports militant organizations, and many experts see the blockade as an attempt by Saudi Arabia to reign in Qatar’s increasingly independent foreign policy.

How does the Qatar crisis impact India?

1. Energy crisis: Half of India’s energy import needs from the Persian Gulf and Qatar, small in size, are the world’s top seller of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Qatar’s dispute with Arab states will most likely put LNG market on the burner.
2. Lobby for sides: Given the risky and volatile conditions of the region, India may be drawn into this ideological war which may disturb the balanced relationship and take part in the “Shia-Sunni”, “Arab-Persian” or “Wahabi-Salafi” divide.
3. Livelihood crisis: With Qatar hosting 2022 FIFA World Cup and many Indian workers are working there in terms of the project related to the World Cup, it threatens the livelihood of around 60000 Indians working there. Indian company L&T have won contracts to construct stadium there.
4. Safety and Security concerns: Apart from that around six million Indians live and work in West Asia and in Qatar in particular, there are 6,00,000 Indian workers. Remittances of this large expatriate community are most likely to be affected too.
5. Rise in air fares: Flying restriction on Qatar will lead to sharp rise of airfares from Doha to India as more Indians are expected to return back home.
6. Tensions may reach backyard:  Since Maldives is involved, there might not be an immediate effect, but if the rift continues and intensifies, there may be negative repercussions for India where Qatar crisis or rather Gulf crisis may reach our backyard.
7. Regional Instability: Energy imports might not get affected until Gulf countries follow through with sanctions but in case of countries like Yemen and Libya, any tensions in these regions will have a consequential impact on thousands of Indian workers.

Way forward:

The Gulf Cooperation Council countries need to negotiate and find a solution keeping the group’s collective agenda in mind. Qatar needs to choose between aligning its policies with those of regional heavyweight. Diplomacy and multi-stakeholder cooperation is the key to the resolution to the ongoing crisis. From the Indian perspective, India should not treat Qatar crisis as Gulf issue and assert its diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia and UAE to ease the pain of Qatar.