Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Qatar, Ryan Gliha (right), during the inauguration of the US pavilion at the DIMDEX 2018, at QNCC yesterday.
Doha: The Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Qatar, Ryan Gliha, has said that this year marks a special turning point in the relationship between Qatar and the US as we have elevated the bilateral relations with the launch of the first bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Washington in January.
In a press statement at the US pavilion for Dimdex 2018, the US Embassy official said: This Strategic Dialogue was chaired by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defence James Mattis, and attended with our Secretaries of Treasury, Energy and Commerce, all of whom engaged in face-to-face talks with their direct Qatari counterparts in the Qatari Council of Ministers.
Among the many strategic outcomes of the Dialogue was the decision of both governments to issue a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation, affirming the two countries’ joint commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region and countering the scourge of terrorism.
The Embassy is looking to build upon that momentum through events like Dimdex, where we can continue forging mutually beneficial defense, commercial, and investment relationships between the United States and Qatar.
Qatar sees the inherent value of American innovative and cutting-edge defense technologies. In 2017, Qatar purchased 36 F-15 Fighters worth $12.4bn, and is looking to expand their capabilities and interoperability with the US military.
Over the past four years, Qatar has committed to Foreign Military Sales valued at approximately $24bn, with a potential to grow that to $40bn based on projects currently under discussion.
“Now our focus is on how we can support the Qatar Armed Forces as their procurement strategy shifts to training and sustainability. We have heard a great deal from the Ministry of Defence on their vision for growing Qatar’s defence industry and will hear more over the next few days, including the multitude of joint-venture opportunities they will launch with companies from around the world”, he noted.
Just as our bilateral political and military relations have advanced, our industries are uniquely poised to benefit from the next wave of Qatar MoD defense procurement.
