Qatar is looking forward to a positive engagement with the upcoming US administration, noted HE Dr Majed al-Ansari, adviser to the Prime Minister and official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a panel discussion at Doha Forum Sunday.
Speaking on the topic ‘The Future of US Strategy in the Middle East Following the 2024 Election’, he said:“We need to listen to each other, understand each other, and go with our discussions beyond the specific interest of our states. We have to go towards the interest of the region as a whole, and international peace and prosperity.”
Dr al-Ansari said it is time to have an open dialogue on every issue of the region. “We are willing to work very closely with the incumbent Trump administration. We are optimistic about what we are doing about ending conflict in the region, about the quick engagement that is taking place right now, about the need to end a lot of the conflicts,” he explained. The official said Qatar has best experience when it comes to mediation. “We have helped bring about the end to the war between Taliban and the US through mediation. So we have worked with President Trump, we have the track record of working with his administration, and we are waiting very positively to deal with the incumbent administration,” he added.
Dr al-Ansari highlighted that Qatar has very good strategic relationship and engagement with the US and that is why it has been classified as a major non-Nato ally by the US. “We want to work with the incoming Trump administration to further the cause for peace in the region.”
“We believe in the strategic presence of the US in this partnership. Qatar believes very strongly that stability and security in the Middle East is also dependent on US engagement and the US understanding. There should be an open dialogue over the future of our region. Therefore a positive engagement can help find solutions and lasting peace,” he added.
The session was also attended by Jason Greenblatt, former White House Middle East envoy under the First Trump Administration and founder of Abraham Venture LLC; Dr Abdulaziz Sager, founder & chairman, Gulf Research Centre; and Dr Sanam Vakil, director Middle East & North Africa Programme Chatham House. The discussion was moderated by Jonathan Panikoff, director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, Atlantic Council.
The panellists at the session. PICTURE: Thajudheen
