Joe Biden has said that Qatar will become one of America’s key allies outside NATO. The US President announced that he would send his decision on the matter to Congress. Previously, a dozen other countries were granted such status in relations with the United States. Biden made the announcement during a meeting with the Emir of Qatar. The country has been talking to Washington for weeks about supplying gas to Europe if needed in the context of Russia’s threats to Ukraine and the West.
Joe Biden said during a meeting with the Emir of Qatar at the Oval Office that he plans to announce to Congress soon that Qatar will be recognized as a key non-NATO ally of the United States.
More than a dozen other countries around the world hold such a position, mainly in relation to military alliances with the United States. Qatar will be the third country in the Persian Gulf to hold the title after Bahrain and Kuwait.
The US President said that recognizing Qatar as a key US ally outside NATO reflects the importance of relations between the two countries and should have been done earlier. – Qatar is a good friend and reliable and talented partner. He added that he would inform the Congress that Qatar would be appointed as a key non-NATO ally to reflect the importance of our relationship.
At the beginning of the meeting, Biden announced that talks with the King would focus on security in the Middle East, “stability of global energy supplies” and cooperation between the two countries in Afghanistan.
Joe Biden met with the Emir of Qatar Tamim ibn Hamad al-SaniPAP / EPA / Tom Brenner / POOL
Supply of natural gas to Europe
Qatar is one of the countries where the United States has recently begun talks on repatriating liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies from Asia to Europe if supplies from Russia are cut off. The invasion of Ukraine and its desire to retaliate.
The emirate is also one of Washington’s most important partners in expelling civilians from Afghanistan.
At the beginning of the meeting, Biden also mentioned the situation around Ukraine. The United States has repeatedly called on Russia to resolve the crisis diplomatically, but said the United States was “ready for anything” as troops continue to flow into the border from Ukraine.
Main photo source: PAP / EPA / Tom Brenner / POOL