Qatar Takes Part In GCC Military Drills Despite Severed Diplomatic Ties With Neighbors

Qatari servicemen are participating in the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) joint military exercises in Saudi Arabia, dubbed Dir' Al-Jazeera (Peninsula Shield), despite lack of diplomatic relations with its neighbors in the region, the Qatari Defense Ministry reported on Thursday

DOHA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st February, 2019) Qatari servicemen are participating in the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) joint military exercises in Saudi Arabia, dubbed Dir' Al-Jazeera (Peninsula Shield), despite lack of diplomatic relations with its neighbors in the region, the Qatari Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.

"Joint exercises of the Gulf countries are aimed at strengthening the coordination of strategic military plans and mutual understanding, as well as increasing the interconnection and coordination between servicemen of the Gulf countries," the ministry said.

The Gulf Shield, a traditional annual exercise in which troops from six GCC member states Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates take part, began on Wednesday and will continue through March 12.

Qatar has been under a diplomatic and economic blockade since June 2017, when the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, among others, severed diplomatic relations with Doha, accusing it of supporting terrorism and interfering in their internal affairs. Qatar has refuted the allegations. In response, Doha limited its activities within the GCC, and also ceased participation in the Saudi-led Arab coalition, which is conducting military operations in Yemen.