Morocco played key role in bridging gap between Gulf countries- Kuwaiti FM says

King Mohammed VI have played a key role in bringing Gulf countries closer following the rift that pitted Qatar against its Gulf Cooperation Council neighbors, Kuwaiti FM Ahmad Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah said.

The Moroccan monarch’s efforts were instrumental in supporting Kuwait’s quest to restore ties between the Gulf neighbors, Al Sabah said in Rabat following talks with his Moroccan peer.

 

The Kuwaiti official had earlier handed Prince Moulay Rachid a message from the Emir of Kuwait Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to King Mohammed VI.

 

The Kuwaiti minister said that his visit in Rabat aims at preparing the ground for the bilateral joint committee due this year.

He also recalled Morocco’s constant support for Kuwait especially during hard times such as the 1990 invasion, adding that Morocco sent troops then to help free the country.

Morocco and the GCC rift

Last January, the breakthrough in the Gulf Cooperation Council with the resumption of normal ties between Saudi Arabia and Qatar vindicated Morocco’s wise diplomacy and its neutral stance vis-a-vis the Qatar blockade by its neighbors

 

Since the outbreak of the crisis between Qatar and its neighbors, in June 2017, Rabat has remained attached to a neutral position offering good offices and seeking to bridge the gap between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain which imposed a blockade on Doha in reaction to diverging stands concerning a set of regional issues, chief of which Qatar’s position regarding the Muslim brotherhood and its relations with Iran.

 

In the wake of the blockade, Morocco rushed to bring a helping hand to Qatar sending aircrafts loaded with food stuff in a sign of solidarity.

 

Morocco supported all efforts to narrow the gap between the Gulf brothers and commended the efforts led by Kuwait and the US to build bridges of reconciliation within the Gulf family.

Rabat has also resisted pressure to take sides on the GCC-Qatar rift and endeavored to safeguard the independence and principled diplomacy while remaining attached to working in favor of joint Arab action.

Observers now say that Morocco has a lot to gain from its constructive neutrality regarding the Gulf dispute as it maintains close ties with all parties.

The strategic character of Morocco’s relationship with Gulf countries was mirrored in the ground recently with the opening by the UAE and Bahrain of consulates in the Moroccan Sahara followed by Jordan which opened a consulate general in Laayoune.

Kuwait is also reportedly considering the opening of consular representation in the Moroccan Sahara.