Qatar

Qatar Says Israel Attack on Gaza 'Undermining any Chance at Peace'

Qatar's prime minister Tuesday said Israel's military offensive in Gaza had undermined peace efforts after the release of US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander and amid expanded operations in the Palestinian territory. "When Israeli American soldier Aidan Alexander was released, we thought that moment would open a door to end this tragedy, but the ...

Hamas: New Gaza Talks 'Without any Preconditions' Underway in Doha

A senior Hamas official said a new round of indirect negotiations with Israel aimed at ending the war in Gaza started in Doha "without any preconditions" on Saturday. "This round of negotiations began without any preconditions from either side, and the negotiations are open to discussing all issues," Taher al-Nunu said. "Hamas will present its ...

World Bank to Restart Operations in Syria Following Saudi, Qatari Payment of Debts

The World Bank on Friday said it would restart operations in Syria following a 14-year pause, after Saudi Arabia and Qatar had paid off the country's outstanding debts. The Bank's operations in Syria were halted when the civil war broke out in 2011, preventing the country from gaining access to its development loans, grants, and technical ...

Trump Lands in Abu Dhabi on Last Leg of Gulf Tour

US President Donald Trump arrived Thursday in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates' capital, on the final stop of his multi-day Gulf tour, AFP journalists on Air Force One said. After visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar this week, Trump is hoping to secure billions of dollars in business deals with the oil-rich UAE that seeks to become an artificial ...

Trump says Could go to Turkey if Russia-Ukraine Talks Progress

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he could still travel to Turkey for the first direct Russia-Ukraine talks aimed at ending their more than three-year war if progress is made. "You know, if something happened, I'd go on Friday if it was appropriate," Trump said in Qatar. "We can help the world psychologically. So we think we're going to do ...

Qatar and Saudi Arabia Competing for the Syrian Market

After supporting several Syrian opposition groups in the early stages of the war, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are now looking to capitalize on the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad last December to establish a strategic foothold in the country. With a new regime in place that aligns more closely with their interests, both countries are eager to ...

From Iran’s Nuclear Program to Gaza: The Gulf as the New Hub of Global Diplomacy (1/2)

On December 8, 2024, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stated that the member states of the GCC “are committed to strengthening dialogue and diplomacy, ensuring that the Gulf region remains a hub for peace and cooperation amid growing global competition.” This was said during a roundtable on the future of cooperative ...

Trump’s Middle East Tour: Diplomacy Under the Billion-Dollar Sign

Donald Trump begins the first diplomatic tour of his second term with a strategic visit to Gulf monarchies. This tour — which includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — aims to strengthen already solid economic ties with these hydrocarbon-rich states, with the hope of securing massive trade and investment deals. Riyadh has ...