Emir & US Defense Secretary review anti-terror efforts

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will meet US President Donald Trump today in which both leaders are set to have discussion on a range of current regional and international issues and ways to enhance bilateral political, economic and security relations.

Yesterday, H H the Emir and U S Secretary of Defense, James Mattis discussed strategic, defence, military and security cooperation between the two countries and means of developing and expanding them.

During the meeting, which was held at the US Department of Defense (Pentagon), H H the Emir and the Secretary of Defense reviewed the two countries’ joint cooperation in combating terrorism and its causes. The meeting also tackled a number of current regional and international events, especially the situation in Yemen and Syria.

At the beginning of the meeting, the US Secretary of Defense expressed his thanks to H H the Emir and the accompanying delegation for this visit, voicing his pleasure at their presence in the Pentagon, especially after the US-Qatari strategic dialogue which reflects the strength of long-standing relations between Qatar and the US, as well as the partnership at the level of the Department of Defense, describing the relations between the two countries as a value and historical friendship with the region. 

Mattis also expressed satisfaction on Qatar’s commitment and support for security and stability in the region. He expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Emir for the important role of Qatar in the fight against terrorism through Al Udeid Air Base. 

H H the Emir expressed strength of relations between the two countries, especially in the defense sector, pointing out the success of the Qatari-US strategic dialogue and its results which confirm the development of relations for the better. The Emir also referred to the joint cooperation of the two countries in various fields, particularly in the field of combating terrorism, noting that the State of Qatar hosts more than 10,000 US soldiers working with Qatari soldiers.

The meeting was attended by a number of Their Excellencies members of the official delegation accompanying H H the Emir. H H the Emir was accorded an official reception ceremony upon his arrival at the Pentagon  Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday also had separate meetings with Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Raytheon Company Thomas Kennedy; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ConocoPhillips Ryan Lance; and Chairman of Sentinel Real Estate Corporation John Streicker, at His Highness residence in Washington DC. 

In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Qatar’s Ambassador to the US, H E Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al Thani has recently said that H H the Emir and the US President Donald Trump will discuss Qatar’s announcement during the Qatari-US Strategic Dialogue, held in Washington recently, on the expanding of Al Udeid Air Base which is already the largest US military base in the Middle East.

In addition, H E Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al Thani said that H H the Emir and the US President will discuss the broad economic partnership and ways of promoting it, as well as the conflict in Syria, the Palestinian-Israeli peace process and the reconstruction of Iraq, noting that these issues are very important for the State of Qatar and that the US administration takes these issues seriously.

On the Gulf crisis, H E Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al Thani had expressed regret over the illegal siege imposed on Qatar since nearly a year, and said: “Despite the sincere mediation efforts of the State of Kuwait and other friendly countries such as the United States, and while we are keenness on reaching a solution for the current conflict as soon as possible, the irony is that the siege helped Qatar accelerate the establishment of new partnerships”.

The Ambassador added that the United States has been trying to mediate in the crisis, and Qatar welcomed and supported these efforts since the beginning of the crisis, reiterating Qatar’s commitment to resolve the crisis with neighbours through dialogue to lift the illegal siege. 

H H the Emir had arrived on Friday in Tampa, Florida, on the first day of an official visit to the United States. The Emir and Commander of United States Central Command Joseph Votel held on Friday an expanded meeting at MacDill Air Force Base. 

The meeting discussed the scope strategic bilateral military and defense cooperation, in light of the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation that was announced during the first United States-Qatar Strategic Dialogue in February and its role in coordinating counter-terrorism efforts. They also discussed the latest regional and international developments.

During his visit to Miami later on, H H the Emir also met with the Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Carlos A Gimenez, at the Mayor’s office. The meeting saw a review of bilateral cooperation and the means to enhance them in different fields, particularly in trade and investments.

During his stay in Miami, H H the Emir also attended the reception held by the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the US. The reception was attended by a number of current and former congressmen, mayor of Miami, former mayor of New York City, and a number of businessmen, politicians, intellectuals, academics and the media in the United States.  

The meeting between H H the Emir and US President will also touch on further expansion of existing economic relations between two friendly countries. Economic relations between Qatar and United States are very strong and the Qatari investments in the US labour market are currently providing about one million jobs, while there are more than 120 American companies operating in Qatar. Qatar is also planning to invest $35bn in the US economy till 2020, in addition to $10bn allocated for the US infrastructure.