US Ambassador to Qatar H E Timmy Davis. Picture: Amr Diab / The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: As his tenure draws to a close, US Ambassador to Qatar H E Timmy Davis reflected on a period marked by historic achievements, regional challenges, and a deepening US-Qatar partnership during a farewell press conference in Doha, yesterday.
From the global spotlight of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar’s important role in mediation efforts in Gaza, Ambassador Davis described his three-year tenure as both transformative and deeply personal.
“We have, over the course of the last three years, really seen the highs and lows of this region from the World Cup in 2022, where Qatar really showed exactly who it is to the world; with that great success, to the difficult work that continues in Gaza and Qatar’s role as mediators,” he said.
Calling himself “the luckiest ambassador in the world,” Ambassador Davis said his tenure in Doha was marked by a sense of purpose and partnership. “In some ways, we have changed the world,” he said, citing US goals advanced with Qatar’s cooperation. “My ability to work on US priorities and US goals with a trusted partner has been invaluable.”
Ambassador Davis recounted a deeply moving experience that, for him, captured the essence of the US-Qatar relationship—a moment when diplomacy translated into a life-changing reality. Reflecting on the return of American detainees from Iran, made possible through Qatar’s mediation efforts, he described the emotional impact of being there in person.
“One of the first detainees walked up to me… and said, [Can I give you a hug?]” Ambassador Davis recalled.
That moment, he said, revealed the true depth of the US-Qatar relationship; “It’s about more than economics, education, or energy—it’s about our shared ability to change lives for the better.”
Reflecting on growing economic ties, Ambassador Davis referenced the recent visit of the US President Donald Trump and new agreements. “More than the $243bn or so deals and MoUs… we have the perspective that over the next decade, it could mean $1.2 trillion in trade between the two countries,” he said.
Speaking about the future, Ambassador Davis emphasised the opportunity for the US and Qatar to move beyond reactive diplomacy and toward strategic cooperation to prevent humanitarian disasters.
“We need to continue to do that with Qatar,” he said, referencing efforts in Gaza. “We can help prevent some of the future calamities and humanitarian disasters in a way that makes people’s lives better.”
“I think there’s space in this world for two good friends like the United States and Qatar to identify problems before they become so large that they take a global response, use our resources, use our expertise, use our experience to stop some of these things before they get out of hand,” he said.
In his message to his successor, Ambassador Davis emphasised the importance of building personal connections and nurturing the US-Qatar relationship, saying, “We have built something really special here. Qatar will only grow in prominence. Once here, engage society—be in places where Qataris and expats meet. Always be honest with the Qatari public. Always be proud of being the American ambassador, but remember that the job is to make sure that this bilateral relationship is of use and good for both partners.”
He urged the incoming ambassador to “pick up the baton and run as fast as she or he can in the direction that this great relationship is already going.”
