The United States has affirmed its commitment to finding a solution to the current Gulf crisis, praising the way the Qatari government and people have persevered in the face of adversity.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the occasion of the National Day, Ryan Gliha, chargé d’affaires at the US embassy in Qatar, said the “United States is proud to celebrate our friendship and strategic partnership with Qatar.”
“Over the past year, the US-Qatari relationship has grown even stronger than ever before. Qatar has confronted many challenges this year, and has faced them with a poise, grace, and resilience of which all Qataris should be proud of.”
He added that the United States remains committed to assisting Qatar to resolve the current crisis, and applauds the way in which the Qatari government and its people have persevered in the face of adversity.
“Despite the difficulties, 2017 has seen so many important milestones for the Qatar-US relationship, pushing to new heights the already extraordinary levels of bilateral military co-operation, economic investment, educational exchange, and co-operation in the global fight against terrorism.”
He stressed that Qatar was one of the first countries to join the US-led anti-IS coalition, adding that Qatar and the US also made new commitments to strengthen and improve partnership and co-operation to combat the threat of terrorist financing globally, with the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
He stated that this “agreement laid out our mutual commitments for increasing information sharing, disrupting terrorism financing flows, and intensifying counterterrorism activities.”
On trade and investment, the charge d’affaires said it has hit new highs in 2017.
“There are over 100 American companies currently operating in Qatar, and the US will continue working with Qatar to bring in even more,” he said.
“Furthermore, the US remains Qatar’s largest import partner and the largest foreign investor in Qatar’s oil and gas sector. The Qatar Investment Authority is well on their way to fulfilling its target of investing $45bn in the US before 2021,” Gliha added.
He noted that the US is honoured that American universities are the preferred destination for Qatari students looking for the best education.
“Over 1,400 Qatari students are studying in the US this year, in 42 of the 50 states, and the six American universities here in Qatar continue to grow and expand their campuses and facilities.”
The charge d’affaires said “Qatar remains one of the United States’ top partners and allies,” and referred to the unprecedented number of high-level US officials who visited Doha, among them Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defence James Mattis, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin.
Gliha said that “these visits symbolise the United States’ commitment to deepening and broadening our bilateral relationship with our Qatari partners on all fronts.”
