THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary-June 6, 2017- Topic 1

Diplomatic mayhem

The dramatic decision by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen to suspend diplomatic ties with Qatar could have far-reaching economic and geopolitical consequences. Tensions were brewing within the Gulf Cooperation Council for the past six years ever since Qatar started actively supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, a political Islamist movement that the Saudis and their close allies see as a threat to stability in West Asia. In 2014, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain had temporarily withdrawn their ambassadors from Qatar over this. 

But a suspension of diplomatic ties as well as air and sea travel to and from Qatar is unprecedented. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain on Monday asked Qatari diplomats to leave their countries within 48 hours and Qatari citizens within 14 days. Saudi Arabia blames Qatar for “harbouring a multitude of terrorist and sectarian groups that aim to create instability in the region”. But such allegations can be raised against most Gulf countries. It is an open secret that both Saudi Arabia and Qatar back their proxy militant groups throughout West Asia. Take the case of Syria, where the Saudis back Salafi groups such as Ahrar al-Sham, while the Qataris bankroll the armed wing of the Muslim Brotherhood. Both share the same goal: to overthrow the regime of Bashar al-Assad. In Yemen, Qatar is part of the Saudi-led coalition that has been bombing the country for over two years.

It is not immediately clear what drove Riyadh to take this extreme step. Emboldened by President Donald Trump’s open embrace and anti-Iran agenda, the kingdom could be making a renewed attempt to rally Sunni countries under its leadership against Tehran. Qatar has historically played off both sides of the Saudi-Iran rivalry. Even as it joined the occasional GCC outbursts against Tehran, it maintained sound economic and diplomatic ties. Qatar’s ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who had a phone conversation with Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani last week, is reportedly critical of the Saudi-led efforts to drive up an anti-Iran agenda. It is to be seen whether Saudi Arabia has overplayed its hand. If Qatar continues to resist the GCC line, it could trigger a wider crisis in the region. Qatar is an economic powerhouse in the Gulf and hosts the headquarters of the U.S. military’s Central Command. The air war command for the U.S.-led fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria is also in Qatar. So any prolonged attempt to isolate the country would not only have economic consequences — oil prices fluctuated soon after the decision was announced — but also complicate the fight against the IS yet more. What West Asia requires is a united front against terror and lowering of Saudi-Iran tensions. Opening new fronts in the rivalry will only destabilise the region further.

Vocabulary

Brewing: an unwelcome event or situation begin to develop.

Example: There was more trouble brewing as the airline pilots went on strike

Synonyms: develop, loom, threaten, impend, be imminent, be on the horizon

Unprecedented: never done or known before.

Example: The government took the unprecedented step of releasing confidential correspondence

Synonyms: unheard of, unknown, new, novel, groundbreaking, revolutionary

Multitude: a large number.

Example: A multitude of medical conditions are due to being overweight

Synonyms: a lot, a great/large number, a great/large quantity

Sectarian: denoting or concerning a sect or sects.

Example: Ethnic and sectarian differences

Synonyms: factional, separatist, partisan, parti pris, doctrinaire, dogmatic

Proxy: the authority to represent someone else, especially in voting.

Example: They may register to vote by proxy

Synonyms: deputy, representative, substitute, delegate, agent

Bankroll: support a person, organization, or project financially.

Example: The project is bankrolled by wealthy expatriates

Synonyms: finance, pay for, fund, subsidize, invest in

Embrace: an act of holding someone closely in one's arms.

vThey were locked in an embrace

Synonyms: hug, cuddle, squeeze, clinch, caress, clasp, bear hug

Emboldened: give someone the courage or confidence to do something or to behave in a certain way.

Example: Emboldened by robust passenger traffic, the airlines put through major fare increases

Synonyms: fortify, make brave/braver, encourage, hearten

Outburst: a sudden release of strong emotion.

Example: She screamed at him about it one day,” said one source who witnessed the outburst