Qatar's Discretion Looks to Mend Ties

Recent weeks have seen Doha work to improve its ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The bloc's contribution to the U.S. air campaign against the Islamic State and Saudi Arabia's aspirations for greater regional coordination on tackling regional security issues from Libya to Syria have stressed Qatar's relationship with its neighbors. To reach a detente, Qatar has begun discussions with the GCC over the country's future support for Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated organizations and principal figures such as Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal.

Qatar will reduce the public visibility of its support but is unlikely to give up the inroads it has made into these groups and states, such as Turkey and Algeria, that also support them. Doha will maintain these relationships and attempt to work as an intermediary within the GCC to help shape policies that are less antagonistic toward its traditional patron groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood. Riyadh and its partners are also likely to look to Qatar to help mend ties with regional rivals such as Turkey on issues including the Syrian civil war and a potentially ascendant Iran.