Doha - Media & Communication Dept. - November 21
The fifth annual strategic dialogue between the State of Qatar and the United States of America will kick off tomorrow in Doha and will be chaired by His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and His Excellency U.S. Secretary of State Mr. Antony Blinken.
The Qatar-U.S. Strategic Dialogue addresses several issues of mutual interest, including regional stability, defense cooperation, public health, counterterrorism, combating human trafficking, human rights, climate change, energy efficiency, humanitarian assistance, strategic investments, economic cooperation, and cultural and educational exchanges.
In that context, Dr. Majid bin Mohammed al-Ansari, Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed that Strategic Dialogues are a milestone in the relations between our countries and reflect the well-established and advanced level of our partnership in all fields. He also noted that the celebration of the two partners of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the classification of Qatar as a major non-NATO ally of the United States, and the continuous close cooperation between the two countries in bilateral, regional and international fields all serve as evidence of a shared commitment to enhance those relations.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. al-Ansari mentioned that these dialogues also demonstrate the concept of joint coordination on regional and global issues, and enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of health, humanitarian assistance, international development, human rights, regional cooperation and climate change, as well as trade, investment, culture and education. He also expressed his full confidence that the outcomes of the fifth session of the Strategic Dialogue will contribute to reinforcing long-term cooperation, including continuous coordination to bring peace and stability to the region.
Dr. al-Ansari also noted the coincidence of the strategic dialogue with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, praising the close cooperation between the State of Qatar and the United States to ensure a safe and successful tournament. He added that the two sides recently have had in-depth discussions on cybersecurity, law enforcement training, public relations, and human rights.
Dr. al-Ansari also stressed that the State of Qatar and the United States share a common interest in combating human trafficking and promoting labor rights, pointing to the U.S. Department of State’s recognition of Assistant Undersecretary of Labor Mr. Mohammed al-Obaidly as a Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report Hero as evidence of the progress made by the State of Qatar on this issue.
Dr. al-Ansari also complimented the strong security partnership between the two countries, including cooperation in law enforcement, aviation, border security, countering violent extremism, countering terrorism, and countering financing of terrorism. He reaffirmed the commitment of the State of Qatar to provide $75 million over five years and implement efforts to support the work of the United Nations Office on countering terrorism.
Dr. al-Ansari also indicated that relations between the State of Qatar and the United States have been established through various institutions throughout different periods of time, stressing that the distinguished partnership shown by the two countries in dealing with the Afghanistan issue, especially on relocation efforts, clearly reflects the high level of these well-established relations.
Dr. al-Ansari also said that the State of Qatar operates in an environment of international, bilateral, and multilateral alliances, and considers the United States its strongest ally and its most important partner in many fields. He expressed his confidence that the close strategic cooperation will continue between the two countries on various issues.