Bahrain-Qatar Rift: Geopolitical Tensions In The Gulf

Bahrain and Qatar have historically had a tense relationship, with several factors contributing to the animosity between the two countries. One of the main issues has been territorial disputes, particularly over the Hawar Islands, which was resolved in 2001 by the International Court of Justice in Bahrain's favour. Additionally, there have been conflicts over citizenship, with Bahrain accusing Qatar of offering citizenship to certain Bahraini families, which Qatar denied. The two countries also differ in their views on Iran, with Bahrain taking a hardline approach due to its large Shia population, while Qatar views Tehran with less suspicion. These differences have led to Qatar and Bahrain cutting diplomatic ties in the past, most notably during the Qatar diplomatic crisis from 2017 to 2021.

Bahrain and Qatar have a long history of territorial disputes

The two nations have been involved in several territorial disputes over the years, including the Battle of Mesaimeer in June 1851, when Qatari tribes switched allegiances from the Bahrainis to Faisal bin Turki of the Emirate of Nejd. The antagonism between the two nations persisted, exacerbated by the Al Khalifa's presumption that their annual tribute of 4,000 riyals to the Wahhabis had effectively purchased Qatar and its tribes. This led to the appointment of Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa as their representative in Qatar, whose harsh and imperious treatment of the Qataris engendered widespread resentment.

In 1866, Bahrain arrested a Qatari Bedouin of the Na'im tribe in Al Wakrah market and deported him to Bahrain, an incident colloquially referred to as the "Al Wakrah Incident". This sparked a series of events that led to the imprisonment of Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, the Qatari ruler, in Bahrain. In response, Muhammad Al Khalifa began assembling a naval fleet to raid Qatar, marking the beginning of the Qatari-Bahraini War in 1867-1868. The conflict resulted in widescale destruction in both nations and was the most flagrant violation of the 1835 maritime truce, requiring British intervention.

In more recent times, Bahrain and Qatar have continued to dispute territories, including the Hawar Islands, Fasht Al Azm, Fasht Dibal, Qit'at Jaradah, and Zubarah. These disputes were eventually resolved by the International Court of Justice in 2001, which awarded the Hawar Islands to Bahrain and confirmed Qatar's ownership of Zubarah.

In addition to territorial disputes, Bahrain and Qatar have also clashed over their citizenship policies, with Bahrain accusing Qatar of offering citizenship to certain Bahraini families in exchange for renouncing their Bahraini citizenship. This policy was seen as a threat to Bahrain's demographics, as the majority of its population is Shia while the ruling family is Sunni.

Bahrain has accused Qatar of offering citizenship to Bahraini families

Bahrain and Qatar have had a tumultuous relationship that can be traced back to the pre-colonial period and the historical relations between the two ruling families, the al-Khalifa of Bahrain and the al-Thani of Qatar. While the two countries share similar histories, languages, and religions, there have been several disputes that have strained their diplomatic relations.

One significant issue that has contributed to the rift between Bahrain and Qatar is the accusation by Bahrain that Qatar has been offering citizenship to certain Bahraini families, encouraging them to drop their Bahraini citizenship. This allegation was made in 2014 and has caused tension between the two nations. Bahrain's concern stems from the belief that Qatar is targeting Sunni citizens, which could impact the country's demographics as Bahrain has a Shia majority but a Sunni ruling family. Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the Undersecretary of Nationality, Passport, and Residence Affairs of Bahrain, expressed his worry about the potential impact on Bahrain's security situation and national interests.

The process of obtaining Qatari citizenship was reportedly made easier by the Qatari government, with decisions being made within 24 hours. This raised suspicions that Qatar was specifically targeting influential Sunni tribes within Bahrain, including those with roles in the government and security forces. Bahrain's fears were further exacerbated by reports that Qatar had naturalized hundreds of Bahrainis, leading to the imposition of fines on any Bahraini citizens who accepted Qatari citizenship.

In response to these accusations, Qatar's Director-General of Public Security at the Interior Ministry denied the claims, arguing that Qatar was only naturalizing citizens of Qatari origin. Despite Qatar's pledge to stop offering citizenship to GCC nationals in 2014, Bahrain continued to threaten action, believing that Qatar was still engaging in these activities.

This controversy over citizenship is just one of the many complexities in the relationship between Bahrain and Qatar, and it remains a sensitive issue that has contributed to the strained ties between the two nations.

Al Jazeera's critical coverage of Bahrain's human rights situation has caused tension

Al Jazeera, a news channel based in Doha, Qatar, has been accused of biased reporting and spreading disinformation on several occasions. Notably, in 2010, Al Jazeera was banned from reporting in Bahrain due to allegations of bias towards Israel and against Bahrain. Although Al Jazeera correspondents were allowed to return to Bahrain in 2004, the ban was reinstated in 2010 when Al Jazeera aired a report on poverty in the country.

Bahrain's suspicions of Al Jazeera's coverage were further heightened during the lead-up to the Qatar diplomatic crisis in 2017. Bahrain, along with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, severed ties with Qatar and blocked Al Jazeera within their borders. One of the coalition's demands during the crisis was for Qatar to shut down Al Jazeera and other state-affiliated news organizations.

Al Jazeera's coverage of Bahrain's human rights situation has been particularly contentious. Bahrain accused Al Jazeera of rubbing "salt in the wound" with its coverage, which often conflicted with Bahrain's expectations of "brotherly" treatment from a fellow Gulf state.

A specific example of Al Jazeera's critical coverage is the documentary "Bahrain: Shouting in the Dark," which was widely distributed on Qatar Airways. This documentary, along with other similar programs, contributed to the tensions during the Gulf crises of 2014 and 2017.

The tensions between Qatar and Bahrain have deep historical roots, dating back to the pre-colonial period and the relations between the two ruling families. Additionally, there have been territorial disputes and conflicts over attracting the loyalty of tribesmen, with Bahrain accusing Qatar of offering citizenship to certain Bahraini families.

While the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and the coalition, including Bahrain, officially ended in 2021, relations between the countries remain complex and tense.

Bahrain and Qatar have different views on Iran's threat as a security concern

Bahrain and Qatar have historically had a complicated relationship, with several territorial disputes and conflicts over tribesmen loyalty. In 2017, Bahrain officially cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, giving Qatari diplomats 48 hours to leave the country. However, in April 2023, Bahrain and Qatar resumed their diplomatic relations.

One of the key differences between the two countries is their view of Iran as a security concern. Bahrain takes a hardline view of Iran, seeing it as an increasing security threat. On the other hand, Qatar views Tehran with less suspicion and distrust. Qatar's ties with Iran are critical in protecting its natural resources, as the countries share the largest gas field in the world. Qatar has also called for Iran's inclusion in any security arrangements in the region.

Bahrain, on the other hand, has had strained relations with Iran since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, with disagreements over geopolitical issues such as interpretations of Islam and relations with Western countries. Bahrain has also accused Iran of interfering in its internal affairs and supporting protests among its Shia population. Bahrain's decision to cut diplomatic ties with Qatar in 2017 was partly due to Qatar's refusal to take sides in the Saudi-Iranian rivalry and its maintenance of cordial relations with Iran.

While Bahrain sees Iran as a significant security threat, Qatar adopts a more nuanced approach. Qatar's relationship with Iran is driven by economic and security interests, particularly the shared gas field between the two countries. Qatar's position on Iran is also influenced by its small Shia community, which accounts for around 90% of its population. As a result, Doha views Tehran's attempts to incite sectarian discord in the region as less of a threat compared to other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

The divergent perspectives on Iran's threat between Bahrain and Qatar have contributed to tensions between the two countries. Bahrain's hardline stance on Iran, coupled with its concerns over tribal loyalty and territorial disputes, have shaped its foreign policy towards Qatar. In contrast, Qatar's more pragmatic approach to Iran, informed by economic and security considerations, has led to disagreements with Bahrain and other GCC states.

Bahrain and Qatar have a history of war and conflict

Bahrain and Qatar have a long history of conflict, with tensions between the two countries stretching back to the pre-colonial period and the relations between the two ruling families, the al-Khalifa of Bahrain and the al-Thani of Qatar.

In the 19th century, Qatar was viewed as "Bahrain's little sister", with Qatar's modern history emerging in the late 18th century when the al-Khalifa family migrated from Kuwait to Qatar's west coast, near Zubara. In 1783, the al-Khalifas conquered Bahrain and established a new ruling dynasty there, while continuing to control Zubara and small settlements in western Qatar. This history continues to complicate modern relations between the two states.

The Battle of Mesaimeer in June 1851 marked the beginning of a series of disputes between Qatar and Bahrain, with Qatari tribes switching allegiances from the Bahrainis to Faisal bin Turki of the Emirate of Nejd. The battle created political enmity between the two countries, which contributed to the start of the Qatari-Bahraini War in 1867-1868. This conflict pitted Bahrain and Abu Dhabi against Qatar and resulted in widescale destruction in both countries. It was the most flagrant violation of the 1835 maritime truce, requiring British intervention and leading to Britain recognising the al-Thani family as the semi-independent ruler of Qatar.

In the 20th century, Bahrain accused Qatar's Al Jazeera TV of bias in its coverage of the uprising in Bahrain in 2011, leading to a diplomatic crisis. More recently, in 2014, Bahrain accused Qatar of offering citizenship to certain Bahraini families in exchange for their renunciation of Bahraini citizenship. Bahrain suspects that Qatar's naturalisation policy targets well-respected Bahraini Sunni tribes, despite the existence of prominent Shia families from Bahrain with strong roots in the region.

In 2017, Bahrain, along with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, severed bilateral relations with Qatar, citing Qatar's alleged support for terrorism and violation of a 2014 agreement with the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Bahrain gave Qatari diplomats 48 hours to leave the country and banned Qatari aircraft and ships from utilising its territory. This marked a deterioration of ties between Qatar and the Arab League, which was only resolved in 2021.

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