Getty Sigmar Gabriel has warned against isolating Qatar by adopting Mr Trump's policies

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Mr Gabriel urged all sides to avoid further escalating the crisis gripping the Gulf, warning that disagreements among Gulf states could weaken the US-led coalition's fight against the Islamic State. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain on Monday said they would sever all ties with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism. The German vice chancellor criticised the policies set out by American President Donald Trump as ushering in an era of protectionism and warned that "Qatar could become completely isolated and be existentially affected". Adding: "Such a 'Trumpification' of dealing with each other is particularly dangerous in a region that is already troubled."

However, the German vice chancellor said that no one would benefit from any further escalation in diplomatic relations and expressed his surprise at the speed of the diplomatic spat that has broken out between neighbours. He said: "I am very concerned about the dramatic escalation of the situation and the consequences for the whole region." Referring to Mr Trump's visit to Saudia Arabia last month, Mr Gabriel slammed the $110billion arms deal that he struck.

Getty U.S. President Donald Trump's visited Saudi Arabia for a summit with Arab leaders in May

He said: "The recent gigantic armament deals of the American President Trump with the Gulf monarchies exacerbate the risk of a new rearmament spiral." He also said Mr Trump's policy "is a completely false policy, and certainly not Germany's policy". Germany's nuclear agreement with Iran and its allies had banished the danger of a nuclear armament dynamics in the region.

So good to see the Saudi Arabia visit with the King and 50 countries already paying off. They said they would take a hard line on funding... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2017

Berlin insisted all parties involved in the sanctions should be able to talk to each other in a bid to diffuse the situation. Mr Gabriel is set to meet the Saudi foreign minister, Adel Al-Jubeir in Berlin. He said: "Then we will surely find out more about the motives of the Saudis for their extremely harsh advance."

...extremism, and all reference was pointing to Qatar. Perhaps this will be the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2017

Mr Trump inserted himself in the middle of the diplomatic row over Qatar by tweeting a response that appeared to side with Saudi Arabia. Referring to his trip to the Gulf State, the US president tweeted on Tuesday: “During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical Ideology. Leaders pointed to Qatar – look!” “So good to see the Saudi Arabia visit with the King and 50 countries already paying off. They said they would take a hard line on funding... extremism, and all reference was pointing to Qatar. Perhaps this will be the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism!”

PA Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani may have to step down

United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said: “We want to make clear that various countries - Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt and others – are fed up with Qatar’s duplicity, which has been undermining the region. “Qatar is undermining regional security and our attempts at countering the extremist and terrorist narrative.” Mr Gabriel said: "We all - and that is also the view of my Saudi counterpart - are interested in avoiding any further escalation, because the region is already facing great tensions and challenges."

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Foreign Minister @MBA_AlThani_ to "CNN": Qatar is ready for dialogue to resolve the diplomatic crisis pic.twitter.com/GQkVd03CrZ — MOFA - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) June 7, 2017