CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VII (1, 2) Contemporary-Eurasia-3new | Page 89

ARAKS PASHAYAN
suggest Qatar in the period of confl ict improved its human rights record
and geopolitical standing.
The murder of Jamal Khashoggi on 2 October, 2018, in Saudi Arabia’s
Istanbul consulate has damaged Riyadh’s reputation and the “counterter-
rorism” narrative. The new circumstances can put Riyadh to compromise
with Doha under Washington and international pressure. In this situation
Crown Prince Mohammed Ibn Salman acknowledged the resilience of
Qatar’s “strong economy” more than a year enforcing an embargo against
the small gas-rich emirate. 38 The possible reconciliation between Sau-
di led coalition and Qatar would serve to US interests advancing “Arab
Nato” planes of Donald Trump administration. The United States, which
maintains close relations with both sides, could play an active role in try-
ing to bring its quarreling partners together to counter Iran’s infl uence in
the region. 39
38
39
“Saudi Crown Prince vows Khashoggi justice in defi ant speech,” Bloomberg, October 24,
2018, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-24/saudi-prince-vows-to-protect-
turkey-ties-after-khashoggi-death (accessed November 4, 2018).
Philip Gordon, Amos Yadlin, Ari Heistein, “The Qatar Crisis: Causes, Implications, risks,
and the need for compromise,” The Institute for National Security Issues, Special Pub-
lication, June 13, 2017, http://www.inss.org.il/publication/qatar-crisis-causes-implica-
tions-risks-need-compromise/ (accessed May 16, 2018).
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