Forget Terrorism: The Real Reason Behind The Qatar Crisis Is Natural Gas

[Hydrogen]

According to the official narrative, the reason for the latest Gulf crisis in which a coalition of Saudi-led states cut off diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar, is because – to everyone’s “stunned amazement” – Qatar was funding terrorists, and after Trump’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia in which he urged a crackdown on financial support of terrorism, and also following the FT’s report that Qatar has directly provided $1 billion in funding to Iran and al-Qaeda spinoffs, Saudi Arabia finally had had enough of its “rogue” neighbor, which in recent years had made ideologically unacceptable overtures toward both Shia Iran and Russia.

However, as often happens, the official narrative is traditionally a convenient smokescreen from the real underlying tensions.

The real reason behind the diplomatic fallout may be far simpler, and once again has to do with a long-running and controversial topic, namely Qatar’s regional natural gas dominance.

Recall that many have speculated (with evidence going back as far back as 2012) that one of the reasons for the long-running Syria proxy war was nothing more complex than competing gas pipelines, with Qatar eager to pass its own pipeline, connecting Europe to its vast natural gas deposits, however as that would put Gazprom’s monopoly of European LNG supply in jeopardy, Russia had been firmly, and violently, against this strategy from the beginning and explains Putin’s firm support of the Assad regime and the Kremlin’s desire to prevent the replacement of the Syrian government with a puppet regime.

Now, in a separate analysis, Bloomberg also debunks the “official narrative” behind the Gulf crisis and suggests that Saudi Arabia’s isolation of Qatar, “and the dispute’s long past and likely lingering future are best explained by natural gas.”

The reasons for nat gas as the source of discord are numerous and start in 1995 “when the tiny desert peninsula was about to make its first shipment of liquid natural gas from the world’s largest reservoir. The offshore North Field, which provides virtually all of Qatar’s gas, is shared with Iran, Saudi Arabia’s hated rival.”

The result to Qatar’s finances was similar to the windfall that Saudi Arabia reaped from its vast crude oil wealth.

The wealth that followed turned Qatar into not just the world’s richest nation, with an annual per-capita income of $130,000, but also the world’s largest LNG exporter. The focus on gas set it apart from its oil producing neighbors in the Gulf Cooperation Council and allowed it to break from domination by Saudi Arabia, which in Monday’s statement of complaint described Qataris as an “extension of their brethren in the Kingdom” as it cut off diplomatic relations and closed the border.

In short, over the past two decades, Qatar become the single biggest natural gas powerhouse in the region, with only Russia’s Gazprom able to challenge Qatar’s influence in LNG exports.

http://www.anonews.co/the-qatar-terrorism/

More info with charts, diagrams, infographics and tweets available @ link.

Summary: This says Qatar is being punished for its recent riches and economic success by other middle eastern countries who feel threatened by what could be shifting balance of power in the region & growing autonomy of Qatar which is becoming increasingly independent as it becomes richer...

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[TravelMug]

According to the official narrative, the reason for the latest Gulf crisis in which a coalition of Saudi-led states cut off diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar, is because – to everyone’s “stunned amazement” – Qatar was funding terrorists, and after Trump’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia in which he urged a crackdown on financial support of terrorism, and also following the FT’s report that Qatar has directly provided $1 billion in funding to Iran and al-Qaeda spinoffs, Saudi Arabia finally had had enough of its “rogue” neighbor, which in recent years had made ideologically unacceptable overtures toward both Shia Iran and Russia.

However, as often happens, the official narrative is traditionally a convenient smokescreen from the real underlying tensions.

The real reason behind the diplomatic fallout may be far simpler, and once again has to do with a long-running and controversial topic, namely Qatar’s regional natural gas dominance.

Recall that many have speculated (with evidence going back as far back as 2012) that one of the reasons for the long-running Syria proxy war was nothing more complex than competing gas pipelines, with Qatar eager to pass its own pipeline, connecting Europe to its vast natural gas deposits, however as that would put Gazprom’s monopoly of European LNG supply in jeopardy, Russia had been firmly, and violently, against this strategy from the beginning and explains Putin’s firm support of the Assad regime and the Kremlin’s desire to prevent the replacement of the Syrian government with a puppet regime.

Now, in a separate analysis, Bloomberg also debunks the “official narrative” behind the Gulf crisis and suggests that Saudi Arabia’s isolation of Qatar, “and the dispute’s long past and likely lingering future are best explained by natural gas.”

The reasons for nat gas as the source of discord are numerous and start in 1995 “when the tiny desert peninsula was about to make its first shipment of liquid natural gas from the world’s largest reservoir. The offshore North Field, which provides virtually all of Qatar’s gas, is shared with Iran, Saudi Arabia’s hated rival.”

The result to Qatar’s finances was similar to the windfall that Saudi Arabia reaped from its vast crude oil wealth.

The wealth that followed turned Qatar into not just the world’s richest nation, with an annual per-capita income of $130,000, but also the world’s largest LNG exporter. The focus on gas set it apart from its oil producing neighbors in the Gulf Cooperation Council and allowed it to break from domination by Saudi Arabia, which in Monday’s statement of complaint described Qataris as an “extension of their brethren in the Kingdom” as it cut off diplomatic relations and closed the border.

In short, over the past two decades, Qatar become the single biggest natural gas powerhouse in the region, with only Russia’s Gazprom able to challenge Qatar’s influence in LNG exports.

http://www.anonews.co/the-qatar-terrorism/

More info with charts, diagrams, infographics and tweets available @ link.

Summary: This says Qatar is being punished for its recent riches and economic success by other middle eastern countries who feel threatened by what could be shifting balance of power in the region & growing autonomy of Qatar which is becoming increasingly independent as it becomes richer...

But isn't it too Draconian  that nine nations have so far moved to indefinitely sever ties with Qatar? I think they severed the tie with Qatar, since Qatar has been to close to Iran as well? Or because Saudia Arabia believe that the country is funding terrorist? I'm really quite surprise to read this news about Qatar, the citizen of Qatar will surely affected by this incident.

[iamTom123]

This latest event can be adding fuel to already burning situation in the whole of Middle East. Aside from the gas factor which is always there in any conflict right from the very start, one thing for sure is that Saudi Arabia is now making known its influence and power in Middle East to counteract the rising influence of Iran and its allies.

We will see how this latest  development would play out and how this can be resolved eventually. We are really entering a new world which can be so hard to define because regional powers are shifting and alliances are broken and formed...all while the great power of USA is definitely waning and is going home without the bacon.

We have to remember that what is happening in Middle East can affect all of us in some way all because countries in there can influence the movement of the oil price.

[Sithara007]

During the past decade, Qatar became one of the richest nations in the world as a result of the LNG exports. And this has in turn reduced its dependence on Saudi Arabia. Recently, Qatar has been encroaching upon Saudi Arabia's space in the Islamic world also, by giving out grants for the construction of new mosques and other religious structures.

[KingdomHearts]

The whole world knows it is money and money that matters. Even the terrorists are after money, just fooling a section of people in the name of race religion and all sorts of emotional matters. Even the governments are doing the same, fooling us of other crisis in the pretext of terrorism. I pray after this Qatar incidents countries should stop supporting terrorism indirectly.

[FCDenHaag]

A lot of countries are hypocrite

It's not something new with the Qatar, but in the name of the current business/economic/politic relations some countries just shut up like a coward. England is probably reluctant to attack a trading partner. Saudi Arabia has concluded a deal of GBP 3.5 billion for the purchase of British weapons http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/home-office-terrorist-funding-report-saudia-arabia-focus-not-publish-conservatives-government-a7766381.html
Doha is blamed for the support for the terrorist activities groups supported by Iran where the Shiite minority of the Saudi kingdom, as well as in Bahrain, has been shaken for several years by the unrest of the Shiite majority in this country. The life in Bahrain is just horrible guys

Qatar sponsor the terrorism...and the PSG football club, boycott PSG

Thinking about Global war, a few places are hotspots now. Like the middle east, but i count Asia region too.
EU and US are pretty save, but North America is tricky too now.
Let's see where this ends!

[eddie13]

If europeans would just pull their heads out of their asses, quit buying into all of the russian funded leftist anti fracking propaganda, and just let me go frack the shit out of Europe, then we could solve all these problems..

You don't like all these wars in the middle east?
You don't like relying on russia for your energy needs?
Frack yourself!!
Then you can be self reliant..

[Mometaskers]

They may or may have not supported terrorist groups but there's no doubt there's an economic and political side to this conflict. OP pretty much have given most of the info. Without that, I don't believe the Saudis would have moved against Qatar in this manner.

But isn't it too Draconian  that nine nations have so far moved to indefinitely sever ties with Qatar? I think they severed the tie with Qatar, since Qatar has been to close to Iran as well? Or because Saudia Arabia believe that the country is funding terrorist? I'm really quite surprise to read this news about Qatar, the citizen of Qatar will surely affected by this incident.

Saudi Arabia accusing anyone of supporting terrorism is like a pot calling a kettle black.

During the past decade, Qatar became one of the richest nations in the world as a result of the LNG exports. And this has in turn reduced its dependence on Saudi Arabia. Recently, Qatar has been encroaching upon Saudi Arabia's space in the Islamic world also, by giving out grants for the construction of new mosques and other religious structures.

Even Arabs can't get well along with each other. So now Saudi Arabia is also throwing a tantrum from Qatar funding mosques elsewhere? Such shallowness. If these people don't have oil, I doubt anyone would even give a second look at that parched peninsula they call home.

[grermezter]

I heard rumors that the $1 billion money was paid to anot extremist group that haday kidnapped members of the royal family and demanded the money as ransom. But the crisis is all because of Qatar's relationship with Iran who the rest of the region hate.

[syaripudin]

I think there is a purpose for terrorists to master all kinds of natural wealth. Especially in areas of the Middle East conflict. Tricks or manipulation is their way of making a bad image of a particular religion. In order to be a lie if the terrorist was his destination for race or religion. It seems that terrorists are a matter deliberately formed by certain parties. Which aims to divide a country. Particularly the countries of the Middle East conflict. But their goal is money. By whatever means they will form strength

[HasHe]

The whole world knows it is money and money that matters. Even the terrorists are after money, just fooling a section of people in the name of race religion and all sorts of emotional matters. Even the governments are doing the same, fooling us of other crisis in the pretext of terrorism. I pray after this Qatar incidents countries should stop supporting terrorism indirectly.

Yes,every fight is related to money.Qatar has become an economical giant not dependent on saudi arabia any more which thinks itself as big brother of gulf region.Also saudi arabia does not want qatar to have close relationship with its enemy Iran.So in order to reduce the economic dominance of qatar in gulf region,saudi arabia led false allegations against qatar as it is funding terrorist groups.

[Vishnu.Reang]

I heard rumors that the $1 billion money was paid to anot extremist group that haday kidnapped members of the royal family and demanded the money as ransom. But the crisis is all because of Qatar's relationship with Iran who the rest of the region hate.

Yes... I heard that 20-25 members of the royal family went for hunting somewhere in Iraq, where they were kidnapped by the extremists. The hostage takers demanded a ransom payment of $1 billion, which was paid despite the opposition from the United States.