The Gulf Cup begins in Doha on Tuesday when Qatar faces Iraq with hopes high that the participation of the Saudi-led regional bloc could lead them to ease their blockade of Doha.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain announced earlier this month they would contest the 24th Arabian Gulf title despite their boycott of Qatar since June 2017.
The trio, along with Egypt, have closed their airspace to Qatar Airways and blocked their citizens visiting the country over claims Doha backs radical Islamists and seeks closer links with Iran. Qatar vehemently denies the claims.
But there are …
First imposed on October 19, 1960, in response to Havana’s nationalization of US-owned oil refineries, and extended in 1962, the embargo is an enduring legacy of the Cold War hostilities between the two countries.
It was denounced as “anachronistic” and “inhumane” during two days of debate
