International pressure increased against Qatar

US efforts to contain the Qatari crisis resulted on Tuesday in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Doha and Washington on cooperation in combating terrorism financing.

However, the four Arab countries boycotting Qatar said that the move was insufficient, adding that they would closely monitor the seriousness of Qatari authorities in their fight against all forms of terrorist financing.

While a meeting will be held in Jeddah on Wednesday between the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt and their US counterpart, Rex Tillerson, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah said he was “extremely concerned over unprecedented developments” in the Gulf crisis.

“We will not surrender our historic responsibilities (towards the bloc) and we will be loyal to it until we overcome these developments,” he said, as quoted by KUNA news agency.

Meanwhile, Qatari Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced, in a joint news conference with Tillerson on Tuesday, the signing of a joint memorandum of accord on combating terrorism financing.

A statement issued by the US Secretary of State said that the MOU specified future efforts that could be deployed by Qatar to promote its war against terrorism and resolve terrorist financing issues in a practical way.

For his part, the Qatari foreign minister said the signing of the MOU fell within the framework of “continuous bilateral cooperation… and a result of joint work to develop mechanisms to combat terrorism financing between the two countries”, in addition to exchanging experience in this field.

Tillerson held a meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The two officials also gathered in another meeting with the Qatari foreign minister and a Kuwaiti envoy, Mohammed Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al Sabah, minister of state for cabinet affairs and minister of information.

The four Arab states boycotting Qatar said later on Tuesday that sanctions would remain in place until Doha met their demands.

They added that they would keep a close eye on the Arab peninsula’s efforts to fight terrorism financing.

In a joint statement, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain said they appreciated US efforts in fighting terrorism but that they would closely monitor Qatar’s behavior.

In this context, the four countries’ foreign ministers are expected to meet on Wednesday with Tillerson in Jeddah.

Egyptian Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid said the meeting comes within the framework of coordinating stances between the four countries on the future relationship with Qatar, and will emphasize their adherence to the stated positions and actions taken in the past.