Qatar's two clear choices in Gulf diplomatic rift: Bow down or defy Saudi

Qatar poses a challenge to Saudi hegemony across the Middle East

Qatar, a small Gulf state with the largest GDP per capita in the world and host of the 2022 World Cup, is suddenly at the heart of a diplomatic spat that is threatening stability in the region.

On the morning of June 5, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt all withdrew their ambassadors from Qatar, giving them 48 hours to leave and giving Qatari citizens 14 days to return home. They did this after the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim, was alleged to have stated that “Iran represents