President Donald Trump called Qatar’s emir on Thursday and offered US help as efforts grew to resolve a damaging feud between the emirate and its Gulf neighbours.
Trump’s call to Qatari ruler Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, a key US ally, came as a senior Emirati official told that Gulf Arab states were not seeking regime change in Doha.
“The president offered to help the parties resolve their differences, including through a meeting at the White House if necessary,” Trump’s office said after the call. A Qatari official said Trump in the call had “expressed readiness to find a solution to the diplomatic crisis in the Gulf, and stressed his keenness that the Gulf remains stable.”
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain announced on Monday they were cutting diplomatic ties and closing air, sea and land links with Qatar, giving Qataris within their borders two weeks to leave.