Jordan has officially announced the appointment of a new ambassador to Qatar, after nearly two years to reduce diplomatic representation against the backdrop of the Gulf crisis.
The Jordanian move raised several questions about the expected changes in the relationship between Oman and the Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
On June 6, 2017, Jordan announced a reduction in its diplomatic representation with Qatar and the withdrawal of the licenses of the Al Jazeera offices in Amman. The move came one day after Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE and Egypt cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar.
Appointment of Ambassadors
Jordan appointed a new ambassador to Qatar two years after the reduction of diplomatic representation between the two countries.
Jordan's King Abdullah II on Tuesday issued a royal decree approving the appointment of Foreign Ministry Secretary General Zeid al-Lozi as Saudi ambassador to Qatar.
Sheikh Saud bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani was appointed ambassador to Qatar.
The official newspaper of Jordan announced the issuance of a royal order appointing Zaid Al-Luzi as the Kingdom's extraordinary ambassador and delegate to Qatar. The Jordanian government also approved the Doha decision to nominate Sheikh Saud bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani as the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Jordan.
Balanced relationships
Nadia Saad Eddin, a Jordanian writer and political science researcher and editor of Jordan's Al-Ghad newspaper, said: "The Jordanian decision is a step in the development of Jordanian-Qatari relations that have not broken down over the past period."
"The path of relations between the two countries has been continuous, as well as the important Qatari support for Jordan recently, both in terms of opportunities and in the level of ambitious economic investments in Jordan which are of a sustainable development nature," she told ..
"This move will not affect Oman's relations with the other Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, because Jordan is known for its attempt to balance its relationship at the Arab regional level and even internationally."
"Jordan will try to keep the balance as much as possible for its interests. There are Jordanian strategic interests, whether with Saudi Arabia or the UAE. Oman is keen to keep these relations as they are, especially since Saudi Arabia and the UAE have supported Jordan recently."
Hashemite Guardianship and the Deal of the Century
The writer pointed out that "Jordan is currently under heavy external pressure, especially with regard to the US peace plan known as the deal of the century, which is a major challenge to Jordan at all levels, especially with regard to the issues of Palestinian refugees and the issue of historic Hashemite custody extended to Islamic and Christian holy sites.
She explained that "this plan, which was rejected at the official and popular levels, poses great challenges for Jordan, which is in his interest to have strong papers at various levels and fields, and here comes the Jordanian-Qatari relations and the recent level of developed at the diplomatic level."
"Qatar maintains a firm position on Jordan's support for the Hashemite care of Palestinian holy sites, which is a very important and sensitive issue for Oman, as Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia, are trying to pull this rug out of Jordan and attribute it to itself," she said.
"This has created a tension in the relations between the two sides in the recent period, and this is in the nature of the issue of Jordan's winning the countries that stand by him and support him on this issue, and hence the importance of these bilateral relations."
Positive attitudes
Dr. Jassim bin Nasser Al Thani, a Qatari political analyst and a member of the European Commission on International Law, said: "Jordan looks forward to excellent relations with the State of Qatar, after Doha's remarkable positions, even with Jordan being reduced to its diplomatic representation."
He added in previous statements to "." that "Qatar stood with Jordan in its economic crisis, which made Jordan finds that there is no justification for the return of the situation of what it was before the Gulf crisis."
The Qatari political analyst that "Jordan was not covered by any allegations of security damage, or has differences with Qatar, it is normal to return relations better than it was."
"The appointment of a Jordanian minister to represent his country in Qatar is a sign of the Jordanian leadership's keenness for a better future in the relations between the two countries. The State of Qatar also appointed a member of the ruling family as its ambassador in Jordan."
Jordanian-Qatari relations
Jordan cut its diplomatic representation with Qatar in June 2017, withdrew its ambassador from Doha, and withdrew the licenses of the offices of Al Jazeera, against the background of the Gulf crisis and the siege of Qatar by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt.
The Jordanian-Qatari relations were frozen, and the Gulf crisis was aggravated two years ago, when Jordan was forced to join forces with the countries of the blockade and to take "measured steps" that did not reach the diplomatic relations between the two countries. The siege on Qatar.
However, relations between the two countries have witnessed a significant development in the past few years. Qatar's diplomacy has kept Oman open to reconsider its decision to reduce diplomatic representation and apparently understand the motives behind the Jordanian decision.
The latest two years of meetings between the two countries were at the highest level. The most recent was the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense, Khaled bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, to Jordan in mid-April. He signed a number of defense agreements , As well as the visit of Jordanian Parliament Speaker Atef Al-Tarawneh to participate in the meetings of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and was received by the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.
In August, the State of Qatar announced a $ 500 million package of assistance to Jordan, including investments and project financing, and the provision of some 10,000 jobs for Jordanians during a visit by Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, to Amman, during which he met with the Jordanian monarch.
About two years ago, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar, claiming to support terrorism. Doha denies this and accuses the four sections of seeking to impose guardianship over its national decision.
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