UAE calls for a tougher US line

The United States should consider moving its airbase out of Qatar, the UAE ambassador to the US said on Tuesday, encouraging the Trump administration to use its leverage to further pressure Qatar over its support for extremism.

Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba said Arab states would give the US a list of specific actions Qatar must take before punitive steps are lifted. He said the list would likely include Qatari sanctions on bank accounts of individuals that the Gulf states have already sanctioned - and possibly on the banks themselves.

"We've gotten fed up. We've had enough," Al Otaiba said.

US President Donald Trump echoed their accusations that Qatar funds terrorist groups and foments instability in the Mideast. Al Otaiba said both his country and the US had allowed 'bad behaviour' by Qatar to continue for 'a very long time'.

"If I want to be honest, I think the reason action hasn't been taken against Qatar is because of the air base," Al Otaiba said, referring to Al Udeid airbase, not far from Doha. "The airbase is a very nice insurance policy against any additional pressure."

Home to some 10,000 US troops, the base has emerged as a flashpoint in the dispute between Qatar and its neighbours. The forward headquarters of the US military's Central Command is a staging point for US air campaigns in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

"Maybe someone in Congress should have a hearing and just say, you know, 'Should we consider moving it?'" Al Otaiba said. "And maybe not moving the entire base. Maybe just distribute to various countries so you don't have all your eggs in one basket."

Al Otaiba told reporters that the UAE hasn't told the US it should consider moving the base, but is "willing to have that conversation". And he suggested American troops could be moved to his country, instead. Pointing to new defense cooperation deal the US and the UAE signed last month, Al Otaiba said the "infrastructure is in place" to have the conversation if the US wanted to relocate.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic ties with Qatar last week, accusing it of backing terrorism and promoting policies that destabilise the region. - AP

Source: Khaleej Times