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Sir John - Thank you very much for the warm introduction, and congratulations on your recent Knighthood.

 

Distinguished Guests,

It is a pleasure to be back in Singapore for my first official visit as Prime Minister of Qatar.  

 

I am pleased to be amongst you today as we launch the

inaugural IISS Raffles Lecture, in the first step towards a fruitful partnership between Qatar Investment Authority and the International Institute for Strategic Studies.  I am confident that this series will benefit from this partnership, and I am looking forward to the discussion to follow.

 

Our world has undergone great transformations, in the past few years.  We are witnessing the emergence of multiple centers of influence, each with its own political, economic, and technological strengths.  

 

New conflicts and major confrontations between big power blocs put the international order in real jeopardy: 

• the war in Ukraine, which has shaken global energy markets, and caused widespread food insecurity, 
• political polarizations in the Americas,
• political instability in Africa,
• ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
• And the ongoing rivalry between the US and China, with repercussions on the global supply chain and

international commerce…we are all concerned about this rivalry, particularly in this region.

I am often asked about how Qatar has been able to balance between these two big powers as a small state.  My answer is that Qatar is a genuine ally to both.  China is our number one energy partner, and that relationship continues to deepen, as does our long-standing relationship with the US.  In the same year we were designated a non-NATO ally to the US, we also signed three new deals with China. 

 

Our ability to navigate our relations with China and the US is grounded in our adaptability, diplomatic engagement, and pursuit of mutually beneficial interests.  This not only serves Qatar's own national interests but contributes to regional and global stability as well.

 

 

The many conflicts we witness in every region can at times tempt small states to be complacent and think they do not have a role to play strictly due to their size.  It is quite the opposite.  Small states are at times better positioned to play a critical role in resolving conflict. 

 

Because small states are often more affected by geostrategic competition, heightened tensions, and economic insecurity, so we must be resilient and engage whenever and wherever possible.

 

Leaders of small states must be prepared to face these challenges, not as passive onlookers but as active participants in building peace and stability, as facilitators of dialogue, and as agile mediators in global conflicts.

In light of these challenges, I am often asked about how a small country like Qatar is able to stay resilient in the face of regional tensions and geopolitical challenges.  And my answer is generally that we focus our efforts on three main areas: multilateralism, mediation, and the investment in economic growth for future generations.

For Qatar, as a small state in a turbulent neighbourhood, multilateralism is key.  It is at the center of our foreign policy to try to preserve and empower multilateral frameworks.  

 

Qatar has maintained effective cooperation with international and regional bodies, and has been an active member in various international initiatives. 

 

Last year, we acceded to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, stemming from our common will to create a safe and stable area for the promotion of sustainable economic development.  Our relations with the ASEAN countries are of paramount importance to us, and we are keen to continue to strengthen our ties with them and with the Asian continent in general.

 

Qatar has also become a regional hub for multilateralism by opening numerous UN offices in Doha.  We launched the “United Nations House” last March, which includes 12 UN

offices.

 

To succeed, small states need to take an active international role, have a clear voice, and defend the international order and rule of law, which holds significant importance in

protecting our interests and fostering stability.

 

As a small state, we recognize the effectiveness of multilateralism in working to advance the common good.  We can achieve far more together than alone.   In our increasingly competitive world, such an approach has never been more important. 

A second strategy adopted by Qatar is that of mediation.  Qatar is in a region afflicted by conflict.  Such regional and global insecurities only make small states more vulnerable. 

Strengthening international peace and security is a constitutional commitment for us and has been one of the key pillars of our foreign policy for more than 25 years.

 

Just like Singapore, being a small country gives us a lot of advantages in agility, mobility, and building networks.  Small states can open reliable channels of communication between countries which can serve as an opportunity to strengthen strategic partnerships with major powers in the international community, resulting in vital ceasefires, dialogues, and peace and security arrangements.

 

In Iran, we sought to reach an agreement with the US and were able to become a key mediator in the recent prisoner swap deal and opening a financial channel that will help resolve long lasting issues - a step that we hope will lead to wider dialogue on the Iranian nuclear issue.

 

I was also recently in Ukraine, following a similar visit to Russia. We contributed to fostering the exchange of perspectives, especially concerning humanitarian issues and the importance to resolve the conflict through dialogue and diplomatic means.  What I can confirm is that world leaders from small and large nations are working hard to attain peace in this region, much like they are doing in other parts of the world, and small states play a particular role in such peace negotiations.

Before this, in August 2021, we succeeded in mediating between Afghanistan and the United States, which resulted in the end of a war that spanned more than two decades.  And stemming from our humanitarian duty, Qatar played an

integral part in one of the biggest airlifts in history, successfully evacuating more than 80,000 individuals through Qatar.

 

Singapore is in a similar situation, situated in a region historically marked by complex geopolitical dynamics. Singapore has navigated these challenges with remarkable diplomacy, placing itself as neutral and stable in the midst of regional conflicts.  This is most evidently shown in Singapore’s prominent role in founding and sustaining the Forum of Small States (FOSS), which provides effective means by which they foster and express common positions. 

 

We believe that our regions have a lot of unlocked potential, and we hope that other small- and medium-sized states can benefit from our collective experiences.  

 

It is imperative that small states play their part in the shared responsibility for a more secure world.  We cannot be isolated from what is happening in the rest of the world, rather we must play an active role in to achieve international stability by forging alliances, mediating conflicts, and asserting our influence on pressing global issues. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The future of our countries lies in the hands of our future generations.  

 

In the case of Qatar, the last decade has taught us crucial lessons that inspired us to set out a concrete plan, which balances risk and reward, and takes into account present demands with the future needs of generations to come.  It was vital for us to ensure that we built a lasting legacy and carried on our wealth to our future generations. 

 

We are a young country, guided by a leader who is recognized around the world as ambitious and forward-looking. Many countries have natural resources: some choose to spend, while others choose to invest.  We chose the latter path. 

Using the wealth we generated, we invested in our country and our people.  We invested in education and built significant infrastructure, establishing a state-of-the-art airline, airport, and seaport, while becoming experts in logistics, technology, and professional services.