US says it is ready to work closely with Qatar to ‘deter’ external threats

Qatar scored a major win on the second day of the US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue in Washington DC when top US officials said that the country was ready to work closely to ‘deter and confront’ external threats to Qatar’s territorial integrity.

A joint statement published by the US State Department and Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the countries were committed to promoting peace and stability and countering the ‘scourge of terrorism,’ reported Al Jazeera.

“The United States expressed its readiness to work jointly with Qatar to deter and confront an external threat to Qatar’s territorial integrity that is inconsistent with the United Nations Charter,” the statement continued.

“Qatar and the United States discussed the Gulf crisis and expressed the need for an immediate resolution which respects Qatar’s sovereignty. The two governments expressed concern about the harmful security, economic and human impacts of the crisis.”

This is a major win for Qatar, who is being subjected to an illegal siege by four neighbouring Arab nations since June 5.

The meeting between Qatari and US officials came just a few days after Qatar announced an expansion of the American base at Al Udeid in Doha.

The joint statement added that the two countries looked forward to making more progress in the areas of co-operation when the Dialogue reconvenes in Qatar in 2019. It also said that HH The Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani would visit the USA later this year.

“Both sides look forward to further enhancing bilateral relations during the visit of His Highness the Emir to Washington later this year,” Gulf Times reported the statement as saying.

Qatar and the US discussed and welcomed enhanced co-operation, particularly, but not limited to the following areas.

Political co-operation

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the recently strengthened and expanded bilateral relationship. They discussed the Gulf crisis and expressed the need for an immediate resolution, which respects Qatar’s sovereignty.

The two governments expressed concern about the harmful security, economic and human impacts of the crisis. Concern was also expressed over peace and stability in the Gulf and adherence to international law. 

The two governments intend to identify and prioritise areas for further co-operation based on the results of the inaugural dialogue and decided to establish a working group to advance common policy priorities and political partnerships.

Defence

Qatar and the US emphasised the vital contribution their defence partnership provides for the security and stability of the region. US officials lauded Qatar’s contributions in supporting the sizeable US military presence in Qatar under the US Central Command. 

The US expressed its readiness to work jointly with Qatar to deter and confront an external threat to Qatar’s territorial integrity that is inconsistent with the UN Charter. 

The two governments also discussed the $24.7bn Foreign Military Sales programme that currently exists between the US and Qatar.

Counterterrorism

Both sides intend to strengthen their security and counterterrorism partnership to eradicate terrorism and violent extremism. They reviewed the positive progress made under the terms of the MoU on counterterrorism signed on July 11, 2017, including with respect to information sharing, countering the financing of terrorism, aviation security and capacity building.

Qatar and the US intend to begin the Anti-Terrorism Assistance training programme as soon as possible, as set forth in a Letter of Intent signed in 2017. The programme will focus on key areas such as aviation security, terrorism investigations and the protection of soft targets. 

Trade and investment

In the field of trade and investment, the two governments acknowledged the challenges facing Qatar as a result of the GCC dispute, which prompted Qatar to seek alternative trading partnerships. Qatar noted that despite the dispute, it has honoured its international trade obligations. 

Qatar and the US committed to boosting bilateral trade and they also welcomed the role of US companies in Qatar’s development and of Qatari investment in US firms and jobs.