November 30, 2020
2 mins read

Kushner set to mediate Saudi-Qatar Discussions

Jared Kushner, senior White House adviser and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, will visit Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the coming days in an effort to “resolve the dispute between the Gulf countries”, a media report said.

Kushner will meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatari Emir Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani, US officials told the Axios news outlet on Sunday.

Kushner has “close relationships” with both leaders, the report quoted the officials as saying.

During the trip, he will be accompanied by White House envoy Avi Berkowitz, International Development Finance Corporation CEO Adam Boehler, and former Iran Ambassador Brian Hook.

“Fixing the rift between Saudi Arabia and Qatar would bring a sense of stability back to the Gulf and notch a last-minute achievement for Kushner and the Trump administration before January 20,” the Axios news report said.

On January 20, President-elect Joe Biden is set to be inaugurated.

The report further said: “The US maintains close ties with both Qatar and its rivals, but the Trump administration’s several attempts to reconcile the parties were unsuccessful.”

The officials told Axios that Kushner hopes to “convince the Saudi and Qatari leaders to reconcile and reach a deal on several outstanding issues”, adding that the senior adviser also wants to use the talks in Riyadh to “cement the agreement for Saudi Arabia to allow eastbound flights from Israel to pass through Saudi airspace”.

The news of Kushner’s upcoming visits came almost a week after Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarked on a secret visit to Saudi Arabia for a meeting with the Crown Prince.

Netanyahu’s trip coincided with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who was also in Riyadh at the time.

Qatar Emir (R) and Jared Kushner

The Prime Minister was accompanied by the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, Yossi Cohen.

Netanyahu and the Trump’s administration wish that Saudi Arabia would follow the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in normalizing ties with Israel.

Riyadh has declined to form formal ties with Israel, saying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be discussed first.

However, Riyadh recently announced Israeli airliners could fly over Saudi Arabia to newly available Gulf destinations and to Asia.

Also Read: Israel PM to visit Bahrain

Previous Story

‘Chakra’ to boost energy centres in body

Next Story

Alia Finds Best Way To Indulge In Sustainable Fashion

Latest from -Top News

India-US Trade Deal Likely This Week

The interim trade deal would be an initial step towards a comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement between Indian and the US….reports Asian Lite News India is expected to finalise an interim trade

One Year Later, Hasina’s Son Raises Red Flag

Hasina’s abrupt exit last August after violent student protests was widely seen as a blow to democracy in the Muslim-majority nation of 170 million….reports Asian Lite News Sajeeb Wazed, son of former

Global South Finds Its Campus in India

The question is no longer if India can attract global talent, but whether it can build the conditions to do so at scale—with care and vision. Done right, India could emerge as

Jaishankar Gets Real on India-US Ties

The EAM underlined the structural drivers of the bilateral relationship, saying, “The trend line over the last 25 years has actually been very strong….reports Asian Lite News External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar

Polls Early Next Year, Yunus Tells US

The Chief Advisor invited Rubio to visit Bangladesh ahead of the general election to witness the country’s transition to democracy firsthand…reports Asian Lite News Bangladesh’s interim Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has urged
Go toTop