Crisis Chronology

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QATAR

01/08/2024

On a trip to the Mideast, US Secretary of State says that several Arab nations have expressed interest in helping plan for Gaza in the post war including: Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

10/21/2023

Hamas agrees to release two hostages, an American mother and daughter, to the Red Cross and ultimately the United States, in a deal brokered by Qatar.

07/28/2022

Extremely unusual heavy rain and flooding in July in Qatar and the UAE.

03/21/2022

Qatar signs agreement to provide Germany with natural gas.

01/31/2022

French President Macron and Russian President Putin discuss the situation in Ukraine by phone. US and Russia also continue discussions. Many believe that Putin will not take any military action until after the Olympics in China are over, mid-February. US President Biden to meet with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to discuss increasing natural gas shipments to Europe to compensate for possible cutoff of shipments by Russia, a key worry of Europeans about any military response to Russian aggression in Ukraine. US subsequently name Qatar a major non-NATO ally, giving it special military and economic privileges.

12/07/2021

Qatar and Turkey agree to boost economic cooperation.

11/17/2021

Qatar and Egypt agree to supply Gaza with fuel and building materials.

11/12/2021

Qatar named to represent US interests in Afghanistan.

10/03/2021

In the first elections for two-thirds of the 45-seat Shura Council, no women are voted into office. The emir appoints the remaining 15 seats.

08/22/2021

Government sets elections for the Shura Council for 10/2, the first time Qataris will vote for representatives in the government. The council will have legislative authority and approve general state policies and the budget. It will also exercise control over the executive, except for setting defense, security, economic, and investment policy. Thirty members of the council will be elected and fifteen will be appointed by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

08/11/2021

Qatar appoints ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the first since the rift and blockade.

05/06/2021

Attorney General orders the arrest of the finance minister, Ali Shareef al-Emadi, on charges of misuse of public funds and abuse of power.

02/11/2021

Foreign minister advocates for Iran to return to the nuclear deal.

06/05/2020

Blockade of Qatar remains in effect.

12/10/2019

Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim sends foreign minister to the GCC meeting in his place, casting a pall over Gulf reconciliation.

12/03/2019

Saudi King Salman invites Qatar to GCC meeting 12/10.

11/13/2019

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE announce that they will participate in the Arabian Gulf Cup to be held in Qatar, a signal of thawing relations. The attack on Aramco in September has moved Saudi Arabia toward a more cooperative approach.

05/20/2019

Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani reportedly will attend Gulf states meeting 6/1, the first meeting with blockading nations since the blockade was imposed.

03/19/2019

Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed visits Qatar, seeking investment.

01/09/2019

Qatar continues efforts to spread its influence in Africa. It has recently provided armored vehicles to Mali in conjunction with anti-jihadist Sahel group G5, offered support for Bashir in Somalia, provided logical support to Somalia regional governments, and visited six countries in 12/18: Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Ghana.

12/03/2018

Qatar says it will leave OPEC, although it says the move is not related to its feud with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other states participating in the blockade.

10/09/2018

Turkey and Kuwait sign a mutual defense pact to share military experience and coordinate activities beginning in 2019. Kuwait has become increasingly concerned about Saudi activities in the region, and Turkey has an interest in providing protection for Qatar because of its support of the Muslim Brotherhood, a key part of Erdogan’s support. Tension between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia began in 2014, over a dispute about their common oil fields Khafji and Wafra. The Saudis unilaterally stopped product when Kuwait objected to Chevron being part of the operation, and Kuwait estimated it lost $18 billion in revenue and wants to be compensated. However the two countries have been at odds since the 1913 agreement about the breakup of the Ottoman Empire. Saudi Arabia objected to the boundaries drawn and forced the British to give them two-thirds of Kuwait’s territory.

08/16/2018

Israeli news reports that agreement with Gaza would include a one-year ceasefire. Also, Qatar would join Egypt in paying salaries for Gazan workers and for electricity in the Gaza Strip.

08/15/2018

Qatar said to offer to invest $15 billion in Turkey, which is aimed at shoring up the currency.

07/23/2018

International Court of Justice rules that the UAE boycott of Qatar and expelling Qataris from the UAE violates the international convention on racial discrimination. The court orders several changes in practice without ending the boycott.

07/17/2018

Israel suspends fuel deliveries to Gaza. However, Mohammed al-Emadi, a Qatari official administering a grant from Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani says that Israel and Hamas are quietly working together to keep fighting at a low level while Gaza projects progress.

07/14/2018

There are reports that a prince, second son of Emir of Fujairah (one of the seven monarchies that make up the UAE, sought refuge in Qatar in 5/18 because he fears for his life in a dispute with the rulers of Abu Dhabi. The man, Sheikh Rashid bin Hamad al-Sharqi, has accused the rulers of blackmail and money laundering. He also describes tensions among the emirates about the Yemen war because Abu Dhabi did not consult with the other emirs before committing troops.

06/11/2018

Qatar takes UAE to International Court of Justice, charging the blockade creates human rights violations of Qataris.

06/05/2018

Qatar foreign minister dismisses reports of Saudi Arabian objections to Qatar purchasing Russian air defense system, now in negotiation.

06/05/2018

Qatar begins second year under blockade by other Arab nations. It has reduced its support of groups such as Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, but attempted to build relations with Turkey and Iran. Its economy has suffered.

06/01/2018

Russia and UAE conclude a declaration of strategic partnership, a first for Russia in the Gulf. The two countries share many interests and aims, and the agreement solidifies Russia’s role in the Middle East. The UAE may also be seeking Russia’s help in extricating itself and Saudi Arabia from Yemen, given Russia’s link to Iran. It is also the first anniversary of the Arab blockade of Qatar, which has attempted to improve relations with Russia.

02/21/2018

Qatar and Chad restore diplomatic relations.

02/14/2018

Coup attempt fails

Coup attempt by emir's cousin Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani fails. The coup was planned by a French general at the instigation of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain and was called “Operation Abu Ali.”

01/15/2018

Qatari Shaik Abudullah bin Ali Al Thani, of the royal family complains that he is being held in the UAE against his will. The UAE denies this.

12/20/2017

Coup foiled in Qatar by Turkish forces surrounding the palace. However, opposition suggests that this story is an exaggeration designed to allow government to purge security forces.

07/21/2017

Qatar amends anti-terrorism laws to make them more specific. The UAE applauds the move.

07/19/2017

Qatar rejects modified demands as insincere and says the country will not negotiate until blockade is lifted.

07/18/2017

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt ease demands on Qatar.

07/06/2017

Deadline for demands on Qatar passes without any response, and Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, and the UAE vow to continue blockade.

06/27/2017

Saudi Arabia rejects Qatar’s offer to negotiate demands.

06/24/2017

Turkey denounces Qatar demands as unlawful.

06/23/2017

Saudi Arabia and other countries blockading Qatar issue a list of thirteen demands that must be satisfied before the blockade is lifted. They include cessation of support of terrorists including the Muslim Brotherhood, information about terrorists who were supported in other countries, closing Turkish military base in Qatar, closing the Al-Jazeera news network, and payment of reparations. The USA State Department urged the publication of such a list, although today’s report is unofficial. Qatar has ten days to respond, but says that the accusations are untrue and the demands and unacceptable.

06/14/2017

Qatar withdraws peacekeeping forces from Djibouti-Eritrea border. Both countries have joined the Saudi-led isolation of Qatar.

06/14/2017

Djibouti and Eritrea join diplomatic isolation of Qatar.

06/10/2017

Iran sends food aid to blockaded Qatar. Kuwait offers to mediate talks with other Arab countries.

06/07/2017

Turkish parliament approves allowing military exercises with Qatar.

06/05/2017

Blockade of Qatar

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Bahrain, Yemen, and Libya cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and Iranian-backed militants. They blockade Qatar, blocking even food and medical supplies, contrary to humanitarian norms. Iran accuses USA of orchestrating the move during a recent trip to the region by Pres. Trump.

04/21/2017

Members of a falcon-hunting party that included members of the Qatari royal family are freed. They were captured in 1/16. Their release involved a payment of millions of dollars to a Shiite militia in Iraq that is supported by Iran and the transfer of Shiites from two villages in Syria that have been surrounded by Sunni Islamist militias supported by Turkey and Qatar, though negotiations on that deal had begun before the hostage release was included.

03/21/2017

US and UK forbid some electronic devices on planes departing from 10 Middle Eastern airports, fearing reports of Islamic State developing new form of bomb. The airports are in Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.

12/26/2016

Turkish President Erdogan suggests that Saudi Arabia and Qatar join the cease-fire talks for Syria with Russian and Iran in Kazakhstan in 1/17.

12/03/2016

Qatar becomes a protectorate of the UK.

02/24/2016

Qatar and Kuwait follow other Arab countries in banning travel to Lebanon for its reported agreement with Iran about Syria.

12/15/2015

Saudi Arabia announces the formation of an Islamic military alliance against terrorism including Pakistan, Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Malaysia.

03/29/2015

Members of the Arab League agree to form a military force to counter the influence of Iran and the growth of Islamic extremists. Details were not announced.

03/06/2014

Egypt withdraws its ambassador to Qatar.

03/05/2014

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain withdraw their ambassadors from Qatar in protest over Qatar’s support of the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists in the region.

06/27/2013

New emir appoints Sheik Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani to be prime minister and foreign minister.

06/24/2013

In a surprise, Sheik Hamad, 61, says he will abdicate in favor of his son, Sheik Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, 33, and remove Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber bin Mohammed bin Thani Al Thani from the office of prime minister. Sheik Tamim has focused on domestic issues. The departing ruler has promised parliamentary elections by the end of the year.

11/27/2012

As evidenced in part by the cease-fire in Gaza and the Sunni-dominated uprising in Syria, the alliance of Sunni powers – Turkey, Qatar, Egypt – are gaining leverage against the Shiite alliances formed by Iran. Hamas has more interests in common with the Sunnis than the Shiites. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the Lebanese government are also Sunni-led; Iraq and Hezbollah Shiite.

10/23/2012

Emir visits Gaza, pledging aid and encouraging reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah.

11/15/2011

Qatar said to have played a major role in suspending Syria's membership in the Arab League.

04/03/2011

Government increasingly attempting to be a factor in world politics, having sent fighter jets support of UN action against Libya, and at the same time trying to be intermediary between Iran and the rest of the world.

04/02/2007

Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber bin Mohammed bin Thani Al Thani is appointed prime minister.

06/18/2005

Coup attempt by emir's cousin Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani fails.

04/09/2003

New constitution approved overwhelmingly. Among other things, it allows for the direct election of thirty of the 45-member Legislative Council.

05/21/2001

Hamad bin Jassim sentenced to death; emir must review death sentences, and Hamad bin Jassim was eventually spared and released in 2008.

07/08/1997

Liberalization

Major transformation of country. Despite several attempted countercoups, Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani has ended press censorship and created a television station, Al-Jazzera, that allows for criticism of government. He has called for municipal elections, the first in the Gulf to be held by the end of the year, and wants women to be able to vote in them.

06/27/1995

1995 coup

While Emir Khalifa Bin Hamad al-Thani is in Switzerland, his son and Crown Prince, Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani, takes power in a bloodless coup. The two have been feuding for more than two years. The Crown Prince has been pursuing closer relations with Iran and Iraq.

09/03/1971

Independence

Qatar and UK terminate agreement under which the UK was responsible for foreign affairs and defense of Qatar.

01/1939

Oil reserves discovered.