Trump hosted Kuwait’s emir in White House

US president Donald Trump on Thursday said he and Kuwaiti emir Sheikh Sabah could resolve the Qatar crisis and offered direct US mediation in the four month dispute "right here in the White House."  But he warned Qatari financing of terrorism had to end.

“While I do appreciate and respect the mediation, I would be willing to be the mediator,” Mr Trump said, standing alongside Sheikh Sabah after their meeting at the White House. “I do believe we will solve it ...if we don’t solve it, I will be a mediator right here in the White House” and “we will have something very quickly.” He added, “if I can help mediate between Qatar and, in particular, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, I would be willing to do so.”

Mr Trump emphasized the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) unity in his effort to find a solution. “We will be most successful with a united GCC...we are addressing the ongoing GCC dispute and hopefully it will be resolved very soon.” Without mentioning Qatar by name, Mr Trump named the threats of ISIL, Iran’s activities, and counter-terror financing as challenges that face Kuwait and its Gulf neighbours. 

“This has begun because of the massive funding for terrorism. If they can’t stop funding terrorism, I don’t want them to come together.” The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain have slapped travel, trade and diplomatic bans on Doha over its support for terrorism and interference in internal affairs of its neighbours.

Sheikh Sabah called Mr Trump a friend, and said: “I am optimistic of a resolution. The hope has not ended. Qatar is ready to discuss and fulfil demands and negotiate with us all. If we sit we will be able to resolve the 13 demands.”  The government in Doha announced that Mr Trump spoke with the Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani also on Thursday. 

The two-hour meeting during the emir’s visit focused mainly on ways to deepen US-Kuwaiti security, counter-terrorism and economic relations. But Kuwait’s  neutrality in the GCC and challenges over the Qatar crisis, counter-terrorism and Iran’s meddling in the region were key items. 

“The emir of Kuwait is a very special person who I’ve gotten to know actually over the years,” Mr Trump said while welcoming Sheikh Sabah. “I want to thank you very much for being our guest at the White House and for all of your representatives.”

On the other hand, The four anti-terror Arab States, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, rejected on Thursday that Qatar sets preconditions for a dialogue on the implementation of the 13 demands.

The Arab Quartet’s response came after Qatari Foreign Minister announced that his country rejects dialogue unless the four countries lift the boycott measures, which were taken to protect their interests legally and politically.

On Thursday, Kuwait’s Amir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah said from Washington that Qatar was ready to negotiate 13 demands set forth by the three Gulf countries and Egypt.

However, an anti-terror Quartet statement said later that the comments of Qatar’s foreign minister in setting preconditions for dialogue confirms Doha’s lack of seriousness in dialogue, combating and financing terrorism and interfering in the internal affairs of countries.

The four countries also appreciated the position of US President Donald Trump in his firm assertion that the only way to resolve the crisis is the need to stop the support and financing of terrorism and his unwillingness to resolve the crisis unless this is achieved.

At a joint press conference with Trump at the Oval Office on Thursday, the Kuwaiti Amir said “It’s not in the interest of Qatar to remain outside the flock. Rather, it should join its brothers in the GCC.”

For his part, Trump called on GCC and Egyptian allies to focus on the commitments reached at that Saudi Arabia summit “to continue our joint efforts to drive out and defeat terrorists.