Saudi-Qatar Diplomatic Rapprochement: A Perspective of Neoclassical Realism

Abstract On 5 June 2017, Saudi Arabia announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Qatar. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed had hoped that the blockade against Qatar would make Qatar no longer hold an independent and autonomous foreign policy and away from the influence of Iran and Turkey. However, the Saudi blockade against Qatar has not only failed to bring the latter to its knees but has allowed it to stand on its own feet and gradually reduced its dependence on imports. At the same time, Qatar has strengthened its ties with Iran and Turkey, bringing the two powers directly into the Gulf region and challenging Saudi Arabia’s hegemony in the Gulf. However, on 5 January 2021, Saudi Arabia announced the restoration of diplomatic relations with Qatar. Based on neoclassical realism, this paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the reasons for the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Qatar through both the international system and domestic factors, ultimately concluding that the reasons for the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries are related to Turkish and Iranian forces, the attitude of the United States, as well as GCC unity, the change in the Crown Prince’s diplomatic philosophy, the preservation of Sunnis and the promotion of economic cooperation.