Morocco Well-Placed to Help Ease Tension in the Gulf- Newsmax

American news media organization, Newsmax, published recently an article highlighting Morocco’s potential to ease tension in the Gulf.

“Morocco is a model of tolerance and openness in the Muslim world. It can help ease current tensions and accompany future developments,” said the author of the article on the role of Morocco in mediating an agreement that may put an end to the Qatar-GCC rift.

The close ties binding Moroccan leadership to Gulf states enables the north African Kingdom to play a leading role in resolving Arab disputes.

“There is one country that can play an important role in this evolution: Morocco. Recently, King Mohammed VI has visited the UAE, a country he considers home. The King of Morocco took part in the opening ceremony of the “Louvre Abu Dhabi” where he offered artworks dating back to the 19th century. After that he will head to Qatar,” the article states.

King Mohammed VI, who maintains close ties with Gulf rulers, is on a visit of friendship to the Gulf countries of the UAE and Qatar, which is seen by analysts as a mediation attempt to defuse tension on the backdrop of the rift between a Saudi-led quartet and Doha.

He attended on Wednesday the Louvre Museum opening ceremony in Abu Dhabi, alongside the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohamad Bin Zayed, and Governor of Dubai Mohamad Bin Rashed Al Makhtoum. Also present were French President, Emmanuel Macron, President of Afghanistan, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, and Bahrain’s Monarch Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa, whose country is part of the quartet that is boycotting Qatar.

The King’s upcoming visit to Qatar Sunday (November 12) brings to light Moroccan mediation in the dispute between Saudi-Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE on one side and Qatar on the other side.

The visit to the Gulf by the Monarch is the first since Morocco announced its willingness to offer its mediation in the Gulf crisis when it broke out last June.