ISAS Insights

The simmering rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Qatar has now assumed the proportion of a major rift that has dichotomised the region. The impact of the resulting conflagration threatens to engulf the Middle East and perhaps the world. It has the potential to bring to the fore all intra-mural differences within the Islamic world. The issue will require adept and skilful handling to defuse, and, currently, such leadership at the regional, global and multilateral levels is lacking. Should the situation exacerbate, tiny Qatar may suffer in the short run but, eventually, the larger and stronger Saudi Arabia may end up paying a higher price.