BREAKING: Egypt resumes diplomatic relations with Qatar ending 4-year boycott

Egypt agreed with Qatar to resume diplomatic relations between them, according to the Egyptian foreign ministry announced.

“Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Qatar exchanged, today, January 20, 2021, two official memoranda, in virtue of which the two countries agreed to resume diplomatic relations,” a foreign ministry statement said

Al-Ula agreement ended a diplomatic and travel boycott by the Arab Quartet — Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain — on Doha since June 2017.

The agreement was signed last week by the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at their summit in Saudi Arabia.

The quartet cut diplomatic, economic, and travel ties with Qatar in June 2017, accusing Doha of interfering in their internal affairs and supporting terrorist groups, charges denied by Qatar.

Egypt reopened its airspace to Qatari flights on Jan. 12 and flights between the two countries were resumed.