Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi
The visit of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to US comes at a time when the MENA region is going through a period of turmoil and open conflicts with huge political, economic, social and humanitarian consequences.
It is an exceptional first visit because of its timing, the challenges, and the issues involved. The US is a strategic partner and special ally of Qatar in political, economic and military spheres and it is a ‘solid partnership’ as described by President Barack Obama at the end of Emir’s visit.
The Emir’s message to President Obama was clear and explicit as stated in an article written by the Emir for the New York Times in which he called for working together in order to prevent the MENA region from sliding into chaos and failure.
He emphasised that addressing the root cause of terrorism requires deeper approaches and a long-term strategy to deal with related problems and political leaders should have enough courage to negotiate complete and multiple solutions to the conflicts in the region.
It is important to bring tyrants, whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent people, to justice and end the rule of authoritarian regimes.
Emir assured that Qatar is part of the international coalition led by the US to fight terrorism, and it strongly condemns all brutal acts of terrorist groups, reassuring that “Qatar is committed and united with its partners in the Gulf to fight all forms of terrorism”.
The US-Qatar partnership is based on such facts and a long-term vision with commitment and understanding to maintain security and stability in the region, which is important to Qatar and the Arab nation, and it, is also important to US interests and its partners in the region.
The Emir’s visit to US has consolidated bilateral ties.
It has also reaffirmed that there is a strong basis for the ties and cooperation between the two countries in different spheres including strategic partnership in political, security, military and economic sectors, underpinned by growing trade between the two countries.
The Peninsula
