Qatar will regain confidence as a regional player

Significance

Since the sudden end of the three-and-a-half-year ‘Quartet’ boycott in January, Doha has stepped up efforts to normalise relations with formerly hostile Arab countries. It is also pushing ahead with plans for a massive liquefied natural gas (LNG) expansion.

Impacts

• The loss of solidarity in opposing Qatar could expose other regional rifts, notably between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
• The end of Qatar-Quartet competition should lower tensions in a host of regional conflicts, from Somalia to Libya.
• Turkey and other recent trade partners could see economic losses as Qatar partially reverts to pre-blockade sourcing.