

And to Doha's critics, the hostage deal was further evidence of that role. But its critics, notably Saudi Arabia and the UAE, allege it also uses such interventions to play both sides and fund radical Islamist groups, most recently in Libya and Syria. Qatar touts itself as a neutral player that can act as an intermediary in regional conflicts.

The world's top exporter of liquefied natural gas, it has used its immense wealth to court relations from London to Washington and Tokyo.ĭoha has a history of reaching out to all kinds of controversial groups, from rebels in Sudan's Darfur region to the Taliban in Afghanistan and Hamas in Gaza. Qatar, a US ally that hosts an American military base, has long drawn the ire of its neighbours, who consider Doha an irritating regional maverick. The person was unaware of the amounts or where the money went. But a person close to the Qatari government acknowledged that "payments" were made. It said it could not immediately respond to a request for comment on the hostage deal. "The ransom payments are the straw that broke the camel's back," said one Gulf observer.ĭoha denies it backs terrorist groups and dismissed the blockade by its neighbours as "founded on allegations that have no basis in fact". More from Financial Times: London mayor accuses May of underfunding capital's security Clayton team signals rethink for SEC enforcement Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar And on Monday, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain took the extraordinary step of cutting off diplomatic ties and transport links to Qatar, alleging the country fuels extremism and terrorism. The deal, which was concluded in April, heightened concerns among Qatar's neighbours about the small gas-rich state's role in a region plagued by conflict and bitter rivalries. Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower

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