The Gulf nations of Qatar and Bahrain have announced an end to their age-long diplomatic row since 2017.
Both countries have now re-established diplomatic relations six years after both countries severed relations.
Recall that Bahrain in 2017 joined Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt in imposing a diplomatic blockade on Qatar. The countries’ rivalry goes back even further, however, and Bahrain is the last to renew ties.
Agreement on the reconciliation was reached in talks at the Gulf Cooperation Council headquarters in Saudi Arabia, Qatar’s foreign ministry said.
The blockade was lifted at the start of 2021, and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt have restored ties with Qatar since then, with top leaders paying official visits in recent months.
The neighbours “decided to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries according to the principles of the United Nations charter”, said a foreign ministry statement.
“The two sides affirmed that this step stems from the mutual desire to develop bilaterally
relations and enhance Gulf unity and integration,” it added.
Bahrain’s foreign ministry released a similar statement, the country’s state news agency reported.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt imposed a blockade in 2017, accusing Qatar of supporting extremist organisations in the region and becoming too close to Iran.