The Second Annual Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue demonstrates commitment to further advance strategic ties
On 13 January 2019, the Second Annual Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue took place in Doha, Qatar. This year’s Strategic Dialogue built on last year’s inaugural event in Washington, DC, highlighting the strength of bilateral relations and opportunities for both countries to enhance their strategic partnership.
US officials engaged with their Qatari counterparts on numerous aspects of the relationship, including regional security and defence cooperation, education and culture, law enforcement and counterterrorism, commercial and energy cooperation, and labour issues.
Demonstrating their long-term commitment to advance current partnerships, the US and Qatar signed three Memorandums of Understanding and Statements of Intent during the Dialogue.
The two governments additionally expressed concern about the impact of the Gulf crisis on the region, and Qatar continued to highlight its appreciation for the US’s support in helping resolve the dispute and calling for a unified GCC.
The two governments discussed strengthening the defence partnership to maintain stability in the region by increasing the operational capability of US forces based in Qatar. Together, the US and Qatar discussed counterterrorism and law enforcement partnerships as part of their ongoing joint efforts to prevent violent extremism.
The governments further recognised the importance of cooperation in the field of education and culture by signing a Statement of Intent to work together on enhancing cultural understanding and partnerships. They additionally stressed the importance of their commitment to commercial cooperation in order to boost trade and investment.
The event was attended by senior Qatari and US officials, including:
- His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani
- Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs
- His Excellency Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar’s Ambassador to the US
- Michael Pompeo, US Secretary of State
- Timothy Lenderking, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Arabian Peninsula and Regional and Multilateral Affairs