US ambassador Timmy Davis expects continued US engagement in Qatar and the region during the incoming Trump administration, citing a focus on building relationships and finding solutions to conflicts like the one in Gaza.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Doha Forum Sunday, the envoy underlined the significance of Qatar-US relationship and shared commitment to resolving regional crises, particularly the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
“There are hard-fixed priorities for the US,” he said, offering a reassuring outlook as he addressed concerns about potential shifts in US foreign policy under a second Trump administration.
Davis said that he sees a sustained focus on de-escalating tensions and strengthening bilateral relationships across the region.
He anticipates a continued emphasis on building people-to-people ties and fostering understanding between governments, a strategy in which Qatar has consistently played a leading role.
“Qatar has always sort of led the way in that in building relationships across the region,” Davis pointed out. “But I think that the US is in a place at this point that no matter the administration, we recognise that there is work, that there are positive outcomes that we're looking for in the region so I don't think a change in administration will be any different.”
“I think you'll see a real effort to build relationships very quickly in the next administration,” he added.
The envoy rejected the notion that the US would act as a regional police force, but “our goal is to be a good friend and ally, a partner with our friends in the region, to help stop conflicts and save lives”.
“We understand that there will be conflict, and what we want to be is a good partner to leadership in the region in solving these problems,” he stated. “We don’t think that we have all of the answers, we think that the region is able to advance, is more secure, is safer when we're working together.”
“When you say that there isn’t a solution for the conflict in Gaza, in truth, diplomacy is about understanding that there is a solution, that it may take more work and more time that we thought at the beginning, but the idea that this problem is unsolvable is one that we reject,” Davis said.
Regarding future high-level visits to address the war in Gaza and Ukraine, the ambassador hinted at upcoming diplomatic efforts as he acknowledged Doha as a vital location for peace negotiations, although specifics were unavailable at the time.
“I will urge leaders in this administration before inauguration day and certainly in the next administration to make their way to Doha,” Davis said, noting Qatar's contributions to regional peacemaking and its ability to foster meaningful dialogue on issues ranging from education and trade to conflict resolution.
The Doha Forum, he said, has become a premiere international forum for addressing problems in real time, acknowledging Qatar’s role in mediating the Gaza conflict and providing crucial humanitarian assistance.
Davis: We don’t think that we have all of the answers, we think that the region ... is more secure, is safer when we're working together.
