Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah taking part in a panel discussion at Doha Forum, yesterday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah said regional and global stability remains a major priority for Qatar, hence, its insistence on diplomacy, mediation and strong alliances.
Speaking at a panel session — which also featured Turkish Defence Minister H E Hulusi Akar, and NATO Assistant Secretary-General for Defence Policy and Planning Patrick Turner — on ‘The Evolving Landscape of Strategic Alliances,’ Attiyah said, “We are from a region where we understand the importance of alliances and being a part of a bigger alliance.
"For my country, we have a responsibility to our people and the world. We are maybe the second largest energy exporter, so we have an obligation.
“Anyone can see that the strategic landscape of alliances is not evolving well, and unfortunately, the line is cracked. This is due to a lack of political cohesion, and these days, some parties do not differentiate between protection agreements and strategic alliances. This is why in Qatar, you see us active in trying to reach out and mediate wherever we can because stability is important to us.” The Minister of State for Defence Affairs extolled the ambit of the alliance with the US and Turkey, referring to Qatar’s current status as a Major non-NATO ally (MNNA).
“Our alliance with the US and Turkey is solid and based on several factors, which is why they have been successful. Major non-NATO ally is a good step for Qatar, and we have done good things which brought peace and stability, and we will continue to do this,” he added.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah also said Qatar looks forward to an agreement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and hopes for a regional security framework driven by the agreement.
“We have been looking for this agreement (JCPOA) to end with Iran successfully. I believe if this comes to a positive conclusion, we need to go to the second stage, which we have been encouraging our colleagues in the region that we need a security framework in this region.
“Any advancement in the Iran deal will reflect positively on the region, which we have encouraged. You cannot separate the country and region, we have to live together, and the best way is to find a security framework for the region,” Attiyah said.
