Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Overnight Defense: House Democrats unveil stopgap spending measure to GOP opposition | Bill includes .6B for new subs | Trump issues Iran sanctions after world shrugs at US action at UN Navalny calls on Russia to return clothes he was wearing when he fell ill MORE called on Arab nations to resolve their dispute with Qatar on Wednesday during a meeting with officials in Kuwait.

During a news conference with Kuwait's foreign minister, Pompeo called for an end to the boycott of Qatar led by Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations over accusations that Qatar's government funds Islamist extremist groups in the region, according to The Associated Press.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It’s not in the best interest of the region, it’s not in the best interest of the world,” Pompeo reportedly said. “We need the Gulf countries working together on the complex set of challenges that face each of them.”

Pointing to threats from terrorist groups and Iran, Pompeo said that the region's interests would be better served by Qatar working together with its neighbors to resolve differences peacefully and work to counter extremism.

“We are working to help those countries find a set of common ground,” he said, according to the AP. “We all have the same set of threats, the threats from al Qaeda and from [the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria], the threat from the Islamic Republic of Iran. We all are working diligently to find a path forward so that the rift between those countries can be resolved.”

Qatar's relationship with Iran, however, is seen as a hurdle to re-establishing normal relationships with Saudi Arabia and its neighbors. Qatar re-established normal ties with Iran in 2017 during a blockade of the country led by Saudi Arabia, and shares a large offshore oil field with the country.

Officials in Qatar's government agreed in late 2017 to crack down on extremism and funding lines for terrorist groups following a visit from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Steven Terner MnuchinOn The Money: Powell, Mnuchin stress limits of emergency loans | House seeks to salvage vote on spending bill | Economists tell lawmakers: Kill the virus to heal the economy Economists spanning spectrum say recovery depends on containing virus Powell, Mnuchin stress limits of current emergency lending programs MORE.