To be a member of the US-led “Arab NATO”, Gulf crisis must be solved first: Qatar’s foreign minister

SANAA, Sept. 29 (YPA) – Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stressed that ignoring the disagreement between the members of the US-led new Arab Alliance, which Washington is planning to build, will influence its credibility.

He said that the alliance will be successful if the disagreements over fundamental security concepts are resolved, referring to the crisis that his country has been experiencing with the “Gulf States “for more than a year.

“Respect for the sovereignty of States must be part of the policy of any alliance,” said al-Thani at a press conference in New York on Friday.

Therefore it must be based on clear foundations and a more positive atmosphere, and the Gulf crisis is a real test of a strategic alliance with the United States. ”

The U.S administration pressed ahead Friday with plans to create an “Arab NATO” that would unite U.S. partners in the Middle East in an anti-Iran alliance, but Qatar said the crisis among Gulf countries must be solved first.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met in New York with foreign ministers from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to advance the project.

“An alliance will be based on a security, an economic and political agreement between the GCC countries, the United States, Egypt, and Jordan,” Pompeo said.

E.M