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Presiden AS Joe Biden. Foto/Times of India
“I told Congress that I would designate Qatar as a major non-NATO ally to reflect the importance of our relationship, I think that is long overdue,” Biden said ahead of his meeting with the Qatari emir. Al Arabiya, Tuesday (1/2/2022).
The White House said Biden’s meeting with Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani would focus on the latest developments in the Middle East, the situation in Afghanistan and global energy security.
Meanwhile, the Emir of Qatar said the discussions would include the equal rights of the Palestinian people.
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Washington is taking aim at Qatar as part of its efforts to secure alternative energy supplies for Europe as tensions with Russia linger over a potential invasion of Ukraine.
“In the past year our partnership with Qatar has been at the center of many of our most vital interests: relocating tens of thousands of Afghans, maintaining stability in Gaza and providing life-saving assistance to Palestinians, maintaining pressure on ISIS and deterring threats in the Middle East,” Biden said.
Qatar also represents U.S. diplomatic interests in Afghanistan, following the chaotic withdrawal ordered by Biden last summer.
Other major non-NATO allies include Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand and Tunisia.
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