Foreign relations of Qatar is conducted through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Arab states were among the first to recognize Qatar, and the country gained admittance to the United Nations and the Arab League after achieving independence in 1971. The country was an early member of OPEC and a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Diplomatic missions to Qatar are based in its capital, Doha.
Qatar's regional relations and foreign policies are characterized by strategy of balancing and alliance building among regional and great powers. It maintains independent foreign policy and engages in regional balancing to secure its strategic priorities and to have recognition on the regional and international level.[1][2] As a small state in the gulf, Qatar has an "open-door" foreign policy where Qatar maintain ties to all parties and regional players in the region, including with terror organizations such as Taliban and Hamas.[3] However, Washington Institute published a report in August 2021 stating Qatar's connections with the Taliban have made the country a potential contact for regions seeking negotiations with Afghanistan.[4] Qatar has also been key to negotiating cease-fires between Israel and Hamas that have restored calm after four wars, last seen in 2021.[5]
Multilateral relations
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the emir of Qatar from 1995 to 2013, helped establish Qatar's reputation as an influential player in Middle East politics. The first major move in this regard was the founding of Al Jazeera,[6] a state-owned news media company.
Qatar has also cultivated close relationships with Western powers, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom. Al Udeid Air Base hosts American and British air forces. Qatar has invested extensively in London real estate, and the country has also made donations to prominent research centers in the United States.[7][8] At the same time, Qatar maintains ties to Western adversaries, including Iran, Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and extremist elements in Syria.[9][10][11] Although according to a report by The Economist in December 2021, Qatar has modified its anti-Islamist policies and demanded Brotherhood activists leave.[12]
In an attempt to quell the mounting criticism, Qatar announced sweeping labour reforms in 2019. This included ending kafala, the system that made it illegal for migrant workers to change jobs or leave the country without their employer's permission, effectively trapping workers who were being exploited and abused. Other reforms included the first minimum wage for migrant workers in the region and harsher penalties for companies that did not comply with the new labour laws. When they came into force in September 2020, the reforms were met with wide acclaim. Fifa called them groundbreaking. The UN said they marked a new era. An international trade union referred to them as a game changer.[13][14][15]
It is also one of the few countries in which citizens do not have to pay any taxes.[16][17]
On October 16, 2019, the Council of Ministers of the State of Qatar unanimously endorsed end to such practice in the country by abolishment of the Kafala system.[18]
On 20 March 2021, Qatar's new non-discriminatory minimum wage law that guaranteed the same minimum wage for all workers, all nationalities, all sectors including the domestic workers, came into force. The law also ensured a minimum monthly wage of QAR1,000 ($275) and minimum allowances for food (QAR300) and housing (QAR500) to the workers.[19]
In September, 2014. QFFD contributed in enhancing stability for Syrian refugees. Qatar Charity facilitated access to quality education through the rehabilitation of 6 Formal schools in Turkey, Gaziantep, Urfa, Kilis, targeting a total number of 13,540 beneficiaries and 12,860 girls and boys.[22]
On July 10, 2017, according to documents obtained by Al Arabiya, Qatar agreed to quit supporting the Muslim Brotherhood. In order to avoid undermining relations with the Gulf, it also removed non-citizens from Qatar and refused to provide shelter to anyone from a GCC nation.[23]
On March 27, 2022, The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and Qatar on their fourth high-level strategic discussion, discussed strategic priorities and worked together to ensure that the UN effectively supports member states in their efforts to combat terrorism. Out of a total of 35 other contributors, the state of Qatar is the second greatest contributor to the UN trust fund for counter-terrorism.[24]
Some financial economists have interpreted the 2014 Saudi-Qatari rift as the tangible political sign of a growing economic rivalry between oil and natural gas producers, which could "have deep and long-lasting consequences" beyond the Middle East.[25]
In March 2014 Qatar made overtures to Oman in order to counteract the influence of Saudi Arabia on politics in the region.[26]
In May 2017, an alleged hack of state media led to stories quoting the Emir as enquiring US resentment towards Iran and remarking on Hamas. Doha reported it as false and gave no indication on where it originated. However, news organizations in the region reported the emir's comments as fact. This led to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cutting diplomatic ties with Qatar on 5 June 2017.[27][28]
Qatar voiced support for the Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at ousting U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds from the enclave of Afrin. Spokeswoman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lulwah Rashif Al-Khater said that: "The launching of the Turkish military operation last Saturday was motivated by legitimate concerns related to its national security and the security of its borders, in addition to protecting Syria's territorial integrity from the danger of secession. Turkey, a NATO member, has always been a stabilizing factor in the region."[29]
In mid-March 2024, the Emir of Qatar, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and President of the European Council, HE Charles Michel, discussed about enhancing cooperation between Qatar and the European Union, as well as addressing key regional and global issues, with specific focus on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.[30]
The First Contact Group Meeting on Libya was held in Doha, Qatar on 3 April 2011
The onset of the Arab Spring in January 2011 complicated Qatar's ability to mediate having forced Gulf leaders to side with revolutionaries or the longstanding autocratic regimes. Sheikh Hamad stated in that Qatar would support the uprisings, a position that clashed with neighboring Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar provided extensive support, in funding and weapons, to Libyan revolutionaries and aided in the removal of Muammar Gaddafi by mobilising Arab support behind NATO airstrikes. In Egypt, Qatar supported President Mohamed Morsi and has suffered from strained relations with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi following Morsi's removal.
In Syria, Qatar has provided arms and funding to various opposition groups.[31] Other discoveries from the research claimed that Qatar supported the US against the Assad government. Additionally, the nation supported efforts to mediate a conflict-ending political transition in Syria. In March 2021, Qatar, Russia, and Turkey also started a different track of talks on the Syrian peace process.[32]
According to the Royal United Services Institute, Qatar plays an important role in Syria and Iraq as an interlocutor between Western powers and resistant groups that cannot be engaged directly. This role is consistent with Qatar's efforts as an interlocutor with the Taliban in Afghanistan, hosting a small Embassy in Doha where US officials are able to meet with the Taliban behind closed doors.[33]
Prior to the abdication of Emir Sheikh Hamad, Qatar's mediation was fronted by the Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmad Abdullah Al Mahmud. On 4 May 2009, the Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmad Abdullah Al Mahmud announced that Chad and Sudan had agreed to end hostilities against each other and to normalize relations during Qatari-mediated talks in Doha; however the agreement quickly broke down.[34] Qatar also brokered an agreement between the Sudanese government and the strongest Darfur rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement, in Doha in February 2010.[35] The agreement fell apart in May 2010 and the conflict is ongoing.
Qatar hosted a donors conference to help rebuild war-ravaged Darfur in April 2013.[36]
In June 2010, Qatari peacekeeping forces deployed in the disputed Ras Doumeira area on the border between Djibouti and Eritrea after the latter withdrew from the area. The intention was to help start bilateral negotiations and solve the territorial dispute which had turned violent.[37] Qatar withdrew its 450 troops from the Djibouti-Eritrea border in June 2017 after the two countries severed ties with Qatar.[38]
On February 1, 2023, in an interview, Qatar's foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, stated that his country is actively utilizing its established communication channels with both Washington and Tehran in order to foster a greater alignment of their respective perspectives.
In September 2023, it was reported that Iran expressed its readiness to execute a Qatar-mediated agreement with the United States. The Iranian foreign minister made this announcement on September 14, 2023. According to the terms of the agreement, both Washington and Tehran would release five prisoners, while $6 billion worth of Iranian assets held in South Korea would be released.[39][40]
The broad outlines of the U.S.-Iran deal, which pertain to the potential release of U.S. citizens detained by Iran, were publicly disclosed on August 10. As part of this agreement, it has been proposed that the funds be transferred to banks in Qatar while simultaneously releasing five Iranians who are currently held in the United States.
In June, it was reported that secret talks took place between Venezuela and the United States, with Qatar serving as the host for these discussions. Qatar has been known for its significant involvement in supporting the United States during delicate negotiations, which notably encompassed a recent prisoner exchange with Iran and facilitated backchannel communications between the U.S. and the Taliban.[41][42]
On October 7, 2023, Israel and Palestine started an extensive armed conflict. Due to its escalation, On October 9, 2023, Qatari mediators made urgent talks to attempt to arrange the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons in exchange for the release of Israeli women and children held by the militant group that were being detained in Gaza. Positive progress is being made in the ongoing negotiations, which Qatar has been undertaking in collaboration with the United States.[43] Qatar has played a crucial role in facilitating the release of American and Australian hostages who were stranded in Israel and Hamas.[44][45]
In October 2023, Qatar's mediation efforts led to the reunion of four Ukrainian children with their families. By December 2023, an additional six Ukrainian children were scheduled to be repatriated from Russia to Ukraine under a Qatar-brokered agreement. In February 2024, a third group of 11 children was successfully returned to their Ukrainian families with the assistance of Qatar's mediation. On March 21, 2024, a new batch of children exchange between Moscow and Kyiv took place at Qatar's Embassy in Moscow, facilitated by Qatar and attended by Ambassador Sheikh Ahmed bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani, as confirmed by Russian Children's Ombudswoman Maria Lvova-Belova. Furthermore, the ambassador Sheikh Ahmed expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for their support throughout this process.
Cultural and religious activities
Qatar is an Islamic state with multi-religious minorities like most of the Persian Gulf countries with waves of migration over the last 30 years. The official state religion is Wahhabi Sunni Islam. The community is made up of Sunni and Shi'aMuslims, Christians, Hindus, and small groups of Buddhists and Baha'is. Muslims form 65.5% of the Qatari population, followed by Hindus at 15.4%, Christians at 14.2%, Buddhists at 3.3% and the rest 1.9% of the population follow other religions or are unaffiliated. Qatar is also home to numerous other religions mostly from the Middle East and Asia.[46]
The country has also hosted numerous interfaith dialogue conferences.
The culture of Qatar is strongly influenced by traditional Bedouin culture, with less acute influence deriving from India, East Africa and elsewhere in the Persian Gulf. The peninsula's harsh climatic conditions compelled its inhabitants to turn to the sea for sustenance. Thus, there is a distinct emphasis placed on the sea in local culture. Literature and folklore themes are often related to sea-based activities. Oral arts such as poetry and singing were historically more prevalent than figurative art because of the restrictions placed by Islam on depictions of sentient beings; however, certain visual art disciplines such as calligraphy, architecture and textile arts were widely practiced. Figurative arts were gradually assimilated into the country's culture during the oil era.
Qatar's international aid program has expanded dramatically since the beginning of 2010, and focuses heavily on the Arab world, most notably in the humanitarian crises in Syria and Gaza.[47]
According to the UNOCHA's Financial Tracking Service, Qatar's international aid increased from less than $10 million annually in the pre-Arab Spring period to the hundreds of millions following the event.[48]
For example, in 2012, according to the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country donated more than QAR3 billion (or c. £524 million) through governmental and non-governmental aid to nearly 100 countries across the globe.[49]
Qatari leadership has since pledged publicly to reduce suffering of victims and to achieve and support global partnerships for the achievement of foreign countries' Millennium Development Goals. The state is engaged in investments in a wide range of humanitarian and developmental sectors.[49] Qatar pledged $50 million in support to United Nations humanitarian response plan as well as the regional refugee plan for Sudan, during a donor conference in Geneva on 19 June 2023.[50] "Based on our fraternal responsibility and our moral and human duty towards our brothers in Sudan, and as a continuation of our continuous humanitarian and development efforts in brotherly Sudan, we announce the State of Qatar's pledge of $50 million to support the efforts of the Humanitarian Response Plan and the Regional Refugee Plan," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced.[51]
On September 24, 2023, Qatar dispatched a significant quantity of humanitarian and relief aid, amounting to 58 tonnes, to assist the city of Derna in Libya, which had been severely impacted by flooding. This recent contribution elevates the total amount of aid provided by Qatar to support those affected by the floods to an impressive 267 tonnes. Aid typically encompasses a range of essential provisions, including but not limited to shelter essentials, electricity generators, food, and medical commodities.
Recently, Qatar Charity (QC) launched the 'Libya Appeal' campaign, aimed at providing aid to the Libyan population grappling with the consequences of severe floods. These floods have resulted in the loss of numerous lives and the displacement of a significant number of individuals.
Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani also conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the victims affected by the catastrophic floods in Libya through a message posted on the social media platform Twitter. "I extend to our brothers in Libya my sincere condolences and sympathy for the victims of the catastrophic floods, and we in Qatar declare our complete solidarity with the Libyan people to overcome this painful ordeal, and we ask God to have mercy on the dead, bring back the missing, and heal the wounded,". He wrote.[52][53]
Diplomatic relations
List of countries which Qatar maintains diplomatic relations with:
Relations between the two countries were inaugurated in 1988. Qatar agreed to donate $13.8 million towards the construction of a cancer hospital in Burkina Faso in December 2017.[247] The same month, the Qatar Development Fund allocated $814,000 towards the commencement of humanitarian projects in Burkina Faso.[248]
Qatar shuttered the Chadian embassy in Doha in August 2017, two months after Chad broke off diplomatic ties with Qatar over the Qatar diplomatic crisis, with Chad claiming that Qatar was attempting to destabilize it via Libya.[249] Bilateral relations were returned to normal in February 2018 after a memorandum of understanding was signed.[250]
On 7 June 2017, Comoros cut ties with Qatar, following the lead of several other countries led by a quartet composed of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.[citation needed] After Comoros severed ties, local media reported that two local Qatari charities suspended their activities in the country and that the $37 million under-construction hospital in Anjouan was put on hold. It was speculated that the cessation of philanthropic activities by Qatar was a retaliatory measure against Comoros' alignment with the Saudi-led quartet.[251] Qatar also expelled Comoran representatives in the country on 19 June, giving them 48 hours to leave the country.[252]
Both nations developed bilateral ties in 1994.[247] In December 2017, during a visit to Abidjan by Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar pledged a $6 million donation for Côte d'Ivoire's development.[248]
The Qatari embassy in Djibouti City was inaugurated in December 2005, shortly after the establishment of Djibouti's embassy in Doha.[253] Qatari peacekeepers were deployed to help mediate a border dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea in June 2010. After it was reported that Djibouti had sided with the Saudi-led bloc in the 2017–18 Qatar diplomatic crisis, Qatar pulled its peacekeepers from the area.[254]
In recent years, relations have been tense.[255] The main issue between the two governments is the Qatari support to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.[255]
The Egyptian government, along with those of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, broke off diplomatic relations with Qatar on 5 June 2017. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced it was closing its air and sea ports to Qatari transportation. One of the driving forces behind this decision was, according to the Egyptian's government, Qatar's continuing support for "terrorism", such as the Muslim Brotherhood.[256] Egypt and Qatar resumed diplomatic relations on 20 January 2021.[257]
Qatari peacekeepers were deployed to help mediate a border dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea in June 2010.[254] During the Qatar diplomatic crisis, Eritrea was asked to sever ties with Qatar by the Saudi-led camp, but on 10 June 2017 it refused, claiming it had strong bonds with Qatar.[258] Despite this, some news outlets later reported that Eritrea did in fact cut ties, though this was denied by the Eritrean government.[259]
In March 2018, Eritrea accused Qatar and Sudan of jointly funding rebel groups in its country.[260]
Relations between Mali and Qatar started off in 1977.[247] In December 2017, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Mali and agreed to finance a program for the education of nearly 600,000 Malian children to the tune of $40 million.[248]
On 6 June 2017, Mauritania followed the lead of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt in severing ties with Qatar. Mauritania's Foreign Ministry justified the decision by citing Qatar's alleged "support of terrorism" which has "resulted in heavy losses of human lives" throughout the region and beyond.[265]
Niger has maintained an embassy in Doha since 2015. On 10 June 2017, five days after the start Qatar diplomatic crisis, Niger sided with the Saudi-led camp and recalled its ambassador from Doha.[268]
Qatar and Senegal formed diplomatic relations 10 February 1975.[274] Senegal sided with the Saudi-led bloc and withdrew its ambassador from Doha after the onset of the Qatar diplomatic crisis in June 2017 but recalled its ambassador in August 2017, expressing its desire for a resolution to the crisis.[275]
The two countries formally established diplomatic ties in 1970. Somalia allegedly refused Saudi Arabia's offer to join it in severing ties with Qatar in June 2017 and instead opted to stay neutral.[248]
Diplomatic relations between Qatar and South Africa were initiated on 10 May 1994, the same day that Nelson Mandela was sworn in as President of South Africa.[276]
Relations between Qatar and Sudan were first established in 1972, when Qatar inaugurated its embassy in Sudan's capital city, Khartoum.[278] Qatar remains one of the largest foreign investors in Sudan,[279] and has helped broker peace agreements between the Sudanese government and rebel factions in Darfur.[280]
Qatar is among the largest Arab investors in Tunisia.[282] Relations between Qatar and Tunisia improved immensely between 2011 and 2013, when Ennahda Movement-affiliated candidate Hamadi Jebali was declared Prime Minister of Tunisia in the 2011 Tunisian Constituent Assembly elections. Cooperation in all fields gradually started picking up traction; for instance, the two governments signed ten bilateral agreements in 2012.[283]
The United States formed diplomatic relations with Qatar on 19 March 1972, when diplomat William Stoltzfus met with Qatari government officials and submitted his credentials.[308]
During the waning years of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010 the United States and the Taliban initiated exploratory talks in regards to ending the conflict in Afghanistan after the latter announced its intention to open an office in Doha. Though they were halted later amid Taliban accusations of malfeasance by the United States.[312]
In December 2011, Afghanistan recalled their envoy from Qatar in protest of the newly opened Taliban office. An Afghan government official later claimed that Qatar had not consulted with them prior to the inauguration of the office.[313]
Both had a dispute over ownership of the Hawar Islands and the maritime boundary which was solved by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague in 2001.[315] On 5 March 2014, Bahrain withdrew its ambassadors from Qatar to protest Qatar's non-compliance with a November 2013 agreement not to "interfere" in countries' internal affairs.[316] The widely accepted cause for this move was Qatar's alleged support for the organization, the Muslim Brotherhood.[317] On 5 June 2017, Bahrain, along with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, announced that it would cut ties with Qatar.[318] As of September 2023, all four countries had restored diplomatic ties with Qatar.[319][320][321][322]
On 25 January 1978, an agreement on the commencement of diplomatic relations was signed.[323] Approximately 123,000 Bangladeshi expatriates were working in Qatar in 2015, mainly in the construction sector.[324] In June 2017, Bangladesh signed an agreement with Qatari company Qatargas, today QatarEnergy LNG, to receive 2.5 million tonnes of LNG annually for the following 15 years.[325]
China and Qatar formed relations in July 1988.[327] Emir Tamim bin Hamad made his first visit to China in November 2014. While there, he signed a number of accords with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping, one of which entailed the formation of a China-Qatar Strategic Partnership.[328]
China has an embassy in Doha.
Qatar has an embassy in Beijing and a consulate-general in Guangzhou.
India and Qatar began bilateral relations in 1973.[330] Both countries signed a maritime defence agreement and an information-sharing agreement in November 2008.[331] As part of these agreements, the inaugural India-Qatar Joint Committee on Defence Co-operation meeting was hosted in the Qatari capital Doha in 2008.[332]
Indonesia and Qatar established bilateral relations in 1976.[336] The two countries have signed a number of memorandums of understanding in the fields of air transport, tourism, and agriculture.[337]
Qatar and Iran signed an agreement on setting up diplomatic relations in October 1971, only one month after Qatar gained its independence.[338] The two countries have close ties. Both are members of OPEC, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Unlike fellow GCC member states Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Qatar generally refrains from criticizing Iran's domestic and foreign activities. Qatar has also held several high-level meetings with Iranian officials to discuss security and economic agreements.[339] They jointly control the world's largest gas field.[340] In addition to ties in the oil and natural gas arena, Iran and Qatar also cooperate in the shipping sector.[339]
In January 2016, as a result of the attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran by Iranian protesters, Qatar recalled its ambassador to Tehran and denounced the attack.[341] On 23 August 2017, Qatar announced it would return its ambassador to Iran.[342]
Following the 1990–91 Gulf War, in which Qatar and Iraq were on opposing sides, Qatar closed their embassy in Baghdad. Relations gradually improved between the two countries in the late 1990s.[343] Qatar reopened its embassy for the first time twenty-five years in mid-2015,[344] and in September 2015, appointed its ambassador to Iraq.[345] In June 2023, during a state visit to Baghdad, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and pledged to make a $ 5 billion investment in Iraq.[346][347][348]
Qatar established trade relations with the State of Israel in 1996.[349] Despite Qatar's alleged support of Hamas, Israeli leaders have maintained direct contact with the emirate. In January 2007, in his last months as vice premier, Shimon Peres paid a high-profile visit to the capital city of Doha.[350] Peres also visited Qatar in 1996, when he launched the new Israeli trade bureau there.[351] The bureau was closed in February 2009.[352]
In 2010, Qatar twice offered to restore trade relations with Israel and allow the reinstatement of the Israeli mission in Doha, on condition that Israel allow Qatar to send materials and money to Gaza for its infrastructure, and that Israel make a public statement expressing appreciation for Qatar's efforts. Israel refused on the grounds that Qatari materials could be used by Hamas against Israel, and that Israel did not want to get involved in the competition between Qatar and Egypt over mediation.[353][354]
Diplomatic relations between Qatar and Japan were established in 1972. The two countries share strong economic ties, with Japan being Qatar's foremost trading partner, and Qatar ranking as Japan's sixth most significant import partner in 2016. Japan has an embassy in Doha.[355][356][357][358]
Qatar and Jordan had turbulent relations since the 2000s. Authorities in Qatar arrested and tried a Jordanian journalist working for Qatar TV named Firas Majali on charges of espionage in February 2002 and in August 2002, Jordan closed Al Jazeera's Amman bureau over a segment deemed insulting towards its ruling family.[359] Additionally, Jordan recalled its ambassador to Doha that month. A Qatari court sentenced Firas Majali to death in October 2002,[360] but in March 2003, the Qatari emir granted Majali a pardon after meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan.[361] This prompted Jordan to reinstate Al Jazeera's Amman bureau that year.[362]
On June 6, 2017, one day after the beginning of the 2017 Qatari diplomatic crisis, Jordan announced that it would be cutting back ties with Qatar in solidarity with the blockading countries as well as shuttering the Al Jazeera bureau based there.[363]
Bilateral trade between Qatar and Jordan improved by the end of the third quarter of 2019, with the number of joint Qatari-Jordanian companies established in the Qatari market exceeding 1,700 as compared to 1,550 firms at the end of 2018.[364]
In 1990, at the beginning of the Gulf War, Qatar was among the Arab countries to condemn Iraq's occupation of Kuwait. It also pledged military support to Kuwait.[343] Qatari soldiers participated in the Battle of Khafji, the first major ground engagement in the Gulf War.[366]
Amir Sabah Al-Sabah was recognized as chief mediator of the 2017 Qatari diplomatic crisis. Kuwait's neutrality and good relations with both parties were the main reasons behind its status as mediator.[367]
Qatar mediated negotiations between leading Lebanese political parties in 2008 during the backdrop of the 2006–08 Lebanese protests.[370] The Doha Agreement was signed by all parties in May after five days of negotiations, resolving the crisis.[371]
In 2010, the Qatari emir became the first Arab leader to tour South Lebanon and view the various projects it funded following the 2006 Lebanon War.[372] Qatar contributed $3mn in funding to the restoration of Lebanon following the war, and financed the reconstruction of over 12,000 residential units and a number of buildings in 195 villages in southern Lebanon.[373] The emir visited a hospital in Bint Jbeil and a nearby mosque and church which he funded the reconstruction of, while being accompanied by Lebanon's President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.[372]
In January 2019, the Qatari government pledged to invest in Lebanon by purchasing government bonds worth $500 million in order to improve Lebanon's economic situation.[374]
The two countries initiated relations on 26 May 1984.[378] On 5 June 2017, in solidarity with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, Maldives decided to sever ties with Qatar.[379]
The inception of Mongolia–Qatar relations dates back to 21 January 1998.[381] Qatar donated $10 million to Mongolia for its Millennium Road Project in 2006.[382]
In February 2020, Qatar and Mongolia signed a memorandum of understanding to establish political consultations between the foreign affairs ministries of both the countries.[383]
Diplomatic relations were inaugurated on 21 January 1977.[384] The Nepali ambassador to Qatar, Maya Kumari Sharma, described the emirate as an "open jail" in reference to the working conditions of migrant Nepali laborers.[385]
Formal diplomatic relations date back to 1970.[389] Oman helped facilitate shipping to Qatar after several Arab countries cut sea routes to Qatar during the 2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis. Following the onset of the crisis in June 2017, most Qatari-destined goods flowed through the Port of Salalah and Sohar Port.[390] Two direct shipping lines between the aforementioned ports and Qatar's Hamad Port were launched the same month.[391] When Qatar Airways was banned from Saudi airspace, Oman stepped in and transported Saudi-based Qataris back to Doha.[392] At the official level, Oman remained uninvolved in the dispute, but its status as an alternative transit route has helped Qatar bypass the blockade imposed by its neighbors.[392]
In September 1992, tensions arose between Qatar and Saudi Arabia when Saudi forces allegedly attacked a Qatari border post, resulting in the death of two Qatari soldiers and the imprisonment of a third.[398]
Saudi Arabia withdrew its ambassador from Doha due to some reservations over Al Jazeera content in 2002.[399] It was not until 2008 that Saudi Arabia reinstated its ambassador to Qatar.[400] On 5 March 2014, Saudi Arabia once again withdrew its ambassador from Qatar, this time to protest Qatar's non-compliance with a November 2013 agreement not to "interfere" in countries' internal affairs.[316] The widely accepted cause for this move was Qatar's alleged support for the Muslim Brotherhood.[317]
On 5 June 2017, Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Qatar.[401] The move was followed by a number of other countries in the region and beyond.
Qatar and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1974.[405] On 8 March 2015, Qatari foreign minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah and his South Korean counterpart, Yun Byung-se signed a memorandum of understanding entailing joint diplomatic training between the Diplomatic Institute of Qatar and the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and South Korean president Park Geun-hye attended the signing ceremony held in Doha.[406]
During the Syrian Civil War, Qatar, along with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and western states, vocally and materially supported different rebels with arms and funds against the government. Qatar has been the biggest sponsor of Syrian opposition forces during the civil war.[407][408]
The history of bilateral relations between Qatar and Turkey dates back to the 1973.[412] In the 1980s, the two nations began signing bilateral agreements with one another. Relations gained further traction in the 2000s with the signing of a further number of bilateral agreements.[413]
Qatar and Turkey share similar positions on the Syrian Civil War and the Egyptian Crisis.[414] Their coordination in regional politics has been described as an alliance.[415]
On 2 December 2015, during a Turkish presidential visit to Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad and Tayyip Erdoğan announced the planned creation of a Turkish military base in Qatar; a first for Turkey in the Persian Gulf.[416]
As part of their foreign policy priorities, both countries overtly provide region-wide support for the Muslim Brotherhood.[417]
In 1995, after Hamad bin Khalifa deposed his father to become emir of Qatar, UAE granted asylum to the deposed Khalifa bin Hamad. Qatar accused UAE, along with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, of plotting against the new emir, to which the accused countries denied all charges. Several hundred arrests were made in relation to the incident throughout the next two years, and in February 1996, the Qatar Amiri Guard was mobilised.[419]
UAE was one of the three countries which withdrew their ambassadors from Qatar in 2014.[316] On 5 June 2017, UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, giving the country's diplomats 48 hours to leave the country.[420] UAE was implicated in the hacking of the Qatar News Agency, which set off the diplomatic crisis.[421] In January 2021, UAE and Qatar agreed to resume diplomatic relations.[422] In June 2023, both countries reopened their embassies and appointed ambassadors in July and August.[423][424]
In a meeting in Ankara on 27 November 1997, Qatar and Uzbekistan released a joint statement formally declaring the commencement of diplomatic relations.[425]
France maintains an embassy in Doha,[440] while Qatar maintains an embassy in Paris.[441] The first bilateral agreement was signed in 1974.[442] Qatar is an associate member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.[443] Both countries share strong economic and military ties. France and Qatar signed a defense pact since 1994,[444] and a significant portion of Qatar's military equipment is imported from France.[445]
In 2012, Qatar became France's seventh largest customer and sixth largest supplier in the Near East. Exports from France focus mainly on the supply of capital goods, deliveries of Airbus aircraft, and trade.[446] Qatar's sovereign wealth fund holds stakes in Vivendi, Lagardère Group,[447] and Vinci SA.[448]
Qatar has had an embassy in Berlin since 2005,[449] and Germany has an embassy in Doha.[450] Bilateral ties were formed in 1973.[451] In regards to economic relations, Qatar has made large-scale investments in some of Germany's most prominent companies, including Volkswagen, Siemens and Deutsche Bank.[452]
On 6 June 2017, German FM Sigmar Gabriel condemned the Saudi-led boycott of Qatar.[453] In July, he called on the blockading countries to respect Qatar's rights as a sovereign nation, and applauded its prudence in responding to the blockade.[454]
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced to Kosovan government officials that it would be recognizing the country's sovereignty on 4 January 2011, being the 73rd country to do so.[456] Diplomatic relations between the two were formalized on 7 January 2011.[457]
On 12 January 2023, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra[462] tweeted about meeting the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, where they discussed Ukraine, global energy security, and regional developments. Hoekstra also tweeted that this meeting worked to reaffirm the "good bilateral relations" between both countries, as Qatar "helps foster stability" in an "unpredictable geopolitical landscape." He further added that the Netherlands "greatly values Qatar's support in facilitating the safe passage of people from Afghanistan via Doha to the Netherlands,".
In November 2021, With Qatar Environment Champions programme, the British Council started supporting young activists globally to implement projects that will help tackle climate change challenges to create a greener, more sustainable world.This programme is funded by the FCDO Gulf Strategy Fund and delivered in partnership with the British Council Qatar.[475]
Qatar and Fiji officially formed diplomatic relations on 20 October 2010 in a public ceremony held in New York.[476] In a 2014 incident where 45 Fijian peacekeepers were kidnapped and confined for two weeks in Syria by militants with connections to Al Qaeda, Qatar's government claimed responsibility for successfully negotiating the safe release of the peacekeepers.[477] It was reported in April 2017 that Fijian officials met with the Qatari government to discuss the possibility of turning the emirate into a refuge for Fijian peacekeepers in emergency situations.[478]
The foreign relations of Angola are based on Angola's strong support of U.S. foreign policy as the Angolan economy is dependent on U.S. foreign aid. From 1975 to 1989, Angola was aligned with the Eastern bloc, in particular the Soviet Union, Libya, and Cuba. Since then, it has focused on improving relationships with Western countries, cultivating links with other Portuguese-speaking countries, and asserting its own national interests in Central Africa through military and diplomatic intervention. In 1993, it established formal diplomatic relations with the United States. It has entered the Southern African Development Community as a vehicle for improving ties with its largely Anglophone neighbors to the south. Zimbabwe and Namibia joined Angola in its military intervention in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Angolan troops remain in support of the Joseph Kabila government. It also has intervened in the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) in support of Denis Sassou-Nguesso in the civil war.
Qatar and the United States are strategic allies. Qatar has been designated a major non-NATO ally by the United States.
Qatar–Russia relations are the bilateral foreign relations between the two countries, Qatar and Russia.
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates share a naval border and are part of the Arabic-speaking Persian Gulf region. They are both members of the GCC.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the ministry responsible for handling Qatar's external relations as well as its diplomatic efforts, including the maintenance of its diplomatic missions across the globe. The current minister is Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Bilateral relations exist between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Bahrain. They first began in 1971.
France–Qatar relations are the bilateral relations between France and the Qatar. The first embassy to be established was the Qatari embassy in France in 1972, and the first bilateral agreement was signed in 1974. Qatar has marked various concurrences with France, covering all areas such as cultural, political, economical, academic, scientific and military agreements. The nations are tied in a key discourse protocol, where conversation over various issues of significance to the two capitals are occurring consistently.
Iran–Qatar relations refer to the bilateral relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Qatar. Iran has an embassy in Doha while Qatar has an embassy in Tehran. Qatar and Iran have close ties.
Qatar-Sweden Relations are the bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Sweden and the State of Qatar. The relations are based on trade between the countries. Sweden has an embassy in West Bay in Doha, Qatar and the ambassador of Sweden to Qatar is Gautam Bhattacharyya. The embassy opened on May 14, 2014. Qatar has an embassy in Stockholm, Sweden and the ambassador of Qatar to Sweden is Shka. Moza bint Nasser Ahmad Al-Thani.
Qatar has an embassy in Kuwait City, and Kuwait has an embassy in Doha. Both countries are part of the Middle East region and share close cultural and historical ties.
The Kingdom of Morocco and the State of Qatar formed diplomatic relations in 1972. There is substantial economic cooperation between the two countries, with Qatar being one of the largest foreign investors in Morocco. A $2 billion joint venture between Qatar's sovereign wealth fund and Morocco was established in 2011.
Qatar–Tunisia relations are the bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Tunisia. Qatar is a heavy investor in Tunisia, and ranks second globally in terms of foreign direct investments in Tunisia. The two enjoyed close political relations during the Ennahda Movement's assumption of power in Tunisia in 2011. Both countries are members of the Arab League, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Non-Aligned Movement, Group of 77 and the United Nations.
Japan–Qatar relations are the bilateral relations between Japan and Qatar. Diplomatic relations were established in 1972. The two countries share strong economic ties, with Japan being Qatar's foremost trading partner, and Qatar ranking as Japan's sixth most significant import partner in 2016. Japan has an embassy in Doha. Qatar also has an embassy in Tokyo. In 2023, Japan declared Qatar one of its visa-exempt countries.
Qatar – Sudan relations are the bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of the Sudan. Relations were first established in 1972, when Qatar inaugurated its embassy in Sudan's capital city, Khartoum.
Italy–Qatar relations are the bilateral relations between Italy and Qatar. Italy has an embassy in Doha and Qatar has an embassy in Rome.
China – Qatar relations are the bilateral relations between the People's Republic of China and the State of Qatar. China has an embassy in Doha, while Qatar has an embassy in Beijing. With diplomatic relations first formed in 1988, Qatar is a strategic ally of China, and the two countries maintain a strong relationship.
Jordan – Qatar relations are the bilateral relations between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the State of Qatar. Diplomatic relations were established in 1972. Jordan has an embassy in Doha. Qatar also has an embassy in Amman.
Palestine–Qatar relations refer to foreign relations between Qatar and the State of Palestine. The State of Palestine has an embassy in Doha, Qatar. Munir Abdullah Ghannam is the ambassador of Palestine to Qatar. Mohamed Al-Emadi is the ambassador of Qatar to Palestine.
↑ Translations on Near East and North Africa, Issues 796-802. United States. Joint Publications Research Service. 1972.
↑ Jaarboek van het Departement van Buitenlandse Zaken (in Dutch). Netherlands. Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken. 1972. p.110. Mr. De Hoop Scheffer heeft aan de President van de Verenigde Arabische Emiraten en de Emir van Qatar inmiddels zijn geloofsbrieven overhandigd , resp . op 24 mei en 15 juni 1972 .
↑ Belgisch staatsblad Issues 42-63 (in French and Dutch). 1974. p.3954.
↑ "Часть II Зарубежные Страны: Греция"(PDF). Ежегодник Большой Советской Энциклопедии. 1974. Выпуск восемнадцатый (in Russian). p.261. Archived from the original(PDF) on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
↑ International Canada, Volumes 5-6. Canadian Institute of International Affairs, Parliamentary Centre for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. 1974. p.37.
↑ Middle East Economic Digest Volume 19. Middle East Economic Digest, Limited. 1975. p.26. Qatar and Libya had exchanged ambassadors , the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on 19 November.
↑ News Review on West Asia Volume 20. Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. 1989. p.57.
↑ Daily Report: Near East & South Asia, Volumes 89-168. United States. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1989. p.16.
↑ WPROWADZENIE DO POLITYKI ZAGRANICZNEJ muzułmańskich państw Bliskiego Wschodu i Afryki Północnej (in Polish). Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar, 2018. p.269.
1 2 Fulton, Will; Farrar-Wellman, Ariel (22 July 2011). "Qatar-Iran Foreign Relations". AEI Iran Tracker. American Enterprise Institute. Archived from the original on 10 December 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
↑ Pattisson, Pete (25 September 2013). "Revealed: Qatar's World Cup 'slaves'". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 September 2013. So entrenched is this exploitation that the Nepalese ambassador to Qatar, Maya Kumari Sharma, recently described the emirate as an "open jail".
↑ "About us". Qatari Embassy in Kathmandu. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
↑ "Introduction". Nepali Embassy in Qatar. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
↑ Daniel Wertz; JJ Oh; Kim Insung (August 2016). "DPRK Diplomatic Relations"(PDF). The National Committee on North Korea. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
↑ "About us". Qatari Embassy in Muscat. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
↑ Christopher Cermak (25 March 2017). "Qatar Looks for Leverage". Handelsblatt Global. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
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