Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday called for an end to the dispute between Qatar and other Arab countries, saying there needs to be unity in opposition to Iran.
“When we have a common challenge, disputes between countries with shared objectives are never helpful,” Pompeo said, according to Reuters.
“They never permit you to have as robust a response to common adversaries or common challenges as you might,” he continued.
Pompeo’s comments came during a news conference held as part of his eight-day trip to the Middle East.
The rift dates back to 2017, when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar, citing what they described as the country’s support for extremist groups. President Trump took credit for the split at the time.
Pompeo said Sunday that he discussed the dispute with leaders from Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE, but added that he doesn’t believe it’s “any closer to being resolved.”
“It’s … not at all clear that the rift is any closer to being resolved today than it was yesterday and I regret that,” he told reporters, according to Reuters.
Source » thehill