Why Qatar matters
so much? The answer is simple, because of their immense energy resources. They possess
proven natural gas reserves of more than 25 trillion cubic meters - 13% of the
world total and, among countries, third largest in the world - and proved oil
reserves of more than 25 billion barrels, allowing production to continue at
current levels for about 56 years. Their per capita GDP is one of the world highest
amounting to about 130,000 US$. Qatar hosts the broadcaster Al Jazeera, which
has a noted impact in the region. The tiny sheikhdom is an ally of the
islamo-fascist regime of Iran, with which it exploits a vast gas field.
If they are so
rich, should they be worried because of the recent steps of key Sunni Arab
states against them? Yes. Some forty percent of the food supply used to arrive
to Qatar from the Saudi border. In general, the country purchases abroad 90 percent
of what their 2.7 million inhabitants eat. The curbing of Qatar Airlines will
affect the country’s revenues.
The Qataris are a
minority in their own country. Foreigners account for about 88 percent of the
population, one of every four Qataris is of Indian origin. And the percentage
of the foreigners among the workforce is even higher. The present political
crisis could send the nearly 200 thousand Egyptian residents back home, which
would affect certain sectors like the health service, were the Egyptians have
an important role. We must not forget that Qatar has supported the Muslim
Brotherhood, has mobilized its media outlets to attack the Egyptian regime and
hosted a number of Muslim Brotherhood leaders who had fled Egypt.
Several days after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates,
Egypt and Bahrain broke off relations with Qatar because of the emirate's
financing of terrorist groups, such as Hamas, as well as its ties to Iran, they
placed dozens of figures linked to Qatar on blacklists, including members of
Qatar's royal family and one of the spiritual leaders of the Muslim
Brotherhood.
What now? Will Qatar, the world’s biggest exporter of
liquefied natural gas, resist the pressure or will Doha accept the Saudi terms?
Will Iran and Turkey keep supporting the tiny Gulf sheikhdom and to what extent? When Trump enforced his alliance
with Riyadh, was he aware of the giant American military airbase located southwest
of Doha? What will happen with the Doha's hosting of the 2022 World Cup? We live
in the Middle East, and in the Middle East the future is always a surprise.
