THE GCC DIPLOMATIC RIFT AND ITS REVERBERATIONS UPON ROMANIAN PRESENCE IN THE REGION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15837/aijjs.v11i2.3170Abstract
By virtue of their economic influence, the Arab States of the Gulf are highly interlinked within the global community. Dimensions of globalization (such as outward looking focus on international trade, openness, growing business opportunities and investment) are shifting their interests to a broad spectrum of partners leading to increased connectivity platforms and links. Apparent deteriorating ties seriously undermines relations among GCC[1] players and adversely affects its functioning. Current dispute, centered on allegations about Qatar’s foreign policy, caused much consternation, in fact, unequivocally conflicted with the interests of other members and escalated tensions. A scheme of prolonged economic isolation for the Gulf state of Qatar presents challenges and opportunities for Romania (particularly in food security initiatives in Qatar), however, in light of inter-regional realignments, a united GCC stance must consequently prevail to promote stability and reinforce its status of regional power in the Arab World, that would develop and maintain a strong bilateral relationship between Romania and the GCC.
[1] (Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a political and economic union currently consisting of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates)
References
Al Wasmi, Naser, ‘Kuwait faces tough test as it struggles to resolve Qatar crisis. Country has become the peacemaker of choice in the fractious dispute between Doha and its neighbours’, (The National, 5th July 2017);
Arnold, Tom and SaeedAzhar, ‘UAE blacklist may squeeze liquidity of Qatari banks. The move followed the isolation of Qatar by the four states’ (Business Standard, 10th June, 2017);
Black, Ian, ‘Qatar’s emir Sheikh Haman to had power to son, crown prince Tamim’ (The Guardian, 24th June, 2013);
Blanchard, Christopher M. ‘Qatar: background and US relations’ (Congressional Research Service paper, 4th November 2014);
IrfanBukhari, ‘QR 1.6bn food security project launched’ (The Peninsula, 17th July 2017);
Carey, Jim, ‘Iran, Turkey, and Qatar sign Major Transportation Deal to Boost Trade’ (Geopolitics Alert, 26th November 2017);
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), ‘World Fact Book Middle East: Qatar’ (Publications, 2016);
Crompton, Paul ‘How the Qatari crisis affects you’, (Gulf News, 5th June, 2017);
Dugulin, Riccardo ‘A Neighborhood Policy for the Gulf Cooperation Council’ (Gulf Papers Series,Gulf Research Center, United Arab Emirates, 2010), p. 9;
Khatib, Lina ‘Qatar’s foreign policy: The limits of pragmatism’, (2013) 89 International Affairs 417;
Neely, Jason and Mark Potter, ‘Iran flies food to Qatar amid concerns of shortages’ (Reuters, 11th June, 2017);
Oxford Business Group, ‘Report: Qatar 2015’ (Report, 2015);
Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bilateral Relations with the State of Qatar (Department of Middle East and North Africa, Bucharest, February 2016);
Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, Sovereign Wealth Fund Rankings (Publications, 2017);
Taylor, Adams ‘Qatar could face a food crisis in spat with Arab neighbors’ (The Washington Post, 5th June, 2017);
The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Secretariat General, ‘Charter of the GCC’ (2016);
The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Secretariat General, ‘Organizational Structure’ (2016);
The National, ‘Revealed: the secret pledges Qatar made — and then broke. Formerly secret documents show commitments Doha made to fellow Arab countries in 2013 and 2014’ (News Article, 11th July 2017);
The New York Times, ‘Qatar Says Saudis Seized Its Border Post’, (News Article, 2nd October, 1992);
Ventures Onsite, ‘Qatar Constructions Industry 2017’ (Report, May 2017);
Wiegand, Krista E., ‘Bahrain, Qatar, and the Hawar Islands: Resolution of a Gulf Territorial Dispute’ (2012) 66 Middle East Journal 79;
Wintour, Patrick ‘Gulf plunged into diplomatic crisis as countries cut ties with Qatar’ (The Guardian, 5th June, 2017);
Wintour, Patrick ‘Qatar diplomatic crisis - what you need to know’ (The Guardian, 5th June, 2017);
Wintour, Patrick ‘UAE announces new Saudi Alliance that could reshape Gulf relations’ (The Guardian, 5th December, 2017).
