Qatar and the United States have enjoyed strong bilateral ties and cooperation over the past 50 years and are set to take the partnership to new heights for the mutual benefit of the two countries and their people. Qatar-US partnership has also contributed greatly to strengthen security and stability, and sustainable development in the region and beyond. Qatar-US ties are multifaceted and broad-ranging, covering political, security, defense, economic and developmental fields.
The two sides held their 5th strategic dialogue in Doha yesterday, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and US Secretary of State H E Antony Blinken. The opening session of the dialogue discussed several regional and global issues including the Palestine issue, Iran nuclear deal revival efforts, Russia-Ukraine crisis, energy and food security, and cooperation on promoting and ensuring human rights. Qatar has been advocating peaceful solution to conflicts through engagement and diplomacy.
An important aspect of the dialogue was signing of a letter of intent between the two governments on the World Cup Legacy, whereby the two governments will share their tournament hosting experiences, especially building on the success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in increasing accessibility for persons with disabilities and apply the lessons learned in Qatar at future tournaments including the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Other regional issues discussed at the strategic dialogue included developments in Iraq, Lebanon, Libya and joint efforts in Afghanistan. Qatar and the US share points of view on these issues. The Deputy PM said that Qatar always looks forward to strengthening its cooperation with the US, and always having an open dialogue and a relationship based on transparency and mutual trust between the two countries.
The US has also worked with Doha and supported Qatar’s preparations and efforts for the success of the World Cup. The institutions in the two countries have collaborated on security and cybersecurity for the tournament.
The US Secretary of State lauded the strength of the partnership saying bilateral relations are at the peak point of the 50-year diplomatic relations and that cooperation is now stronger than ever before. Blinken highlighted the security cooperation with Qatar, saying it hosts one of the largest US military bases in the region. This is also evident by the fact of Qatar being designated as a major non-NATO Ally by President Joe Biden, and delivery of F-15 aircraft to Qatar Amiri Air Force.
