US

Tillerson Urges Nations To End Blockade Against Qatar

(PHOTO: REUTERS/Yuri Gripas )

Alex Pfeiffer White House Correspondent
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Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement Friday that he expects the nations currently involved in a blockade against Qatar to deescalate the situation.

“We call on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt to ease the blockade against Qatar,” Tillerson said. “There are humanitarian consequences to this blockade. We’re seeing shortages of food, families are being forcibly separated, and children pulled out of school.”

The blockade was announced Monday, as these nations were worried about Qatar getting too cozy with Iran, who they view as a threat.

President Trump recently returned from a visit to Saudi Arabia where he hoped to strengthen the U.S. Gulf-Cooperation Council (GCC), of which Qatar and blockade participants are members.

The president spoke to the Emir of Qatar Wednesday and proposed a meeting with Gulf leaders to resolve the tension in the region. Qatar has the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, and Tillerson said, “the blockade is hindering U.S. military actions in the region and the campaign against ISIS.”

The secretary of state said the U.S. will work alongside the Emir of Kuwait to bring a peaceful agreement to the blockade, and “progress toward eliminating all forms of support for terrorism, military, financial, moral, or ideological.” A tweet from President Trump Tuesday tied Qatar to the “funding of radical ideology.”

Tillerson said that the GCC “must emerge united and stronger” to show its resolve.

“Our expectation is that these countries will immediately take steps to deescalate the situation and put forth a good faith effort to resolve their grievances they have with each other,” Tillerson added.