Qatar–United States relations

Qatar – United States relations

Qatar	United States

Qatar – United States relations are bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the United States. Qatar and the United States are strategic allies.

History

Bilateral relations between the two countries have expanded in since the opening of the U.S. embassy in Doha in March 1973.^[1] The first resident U.S. ambassador arrived in July 1974. Qatar and the United States coordinate closely on Middle Eastern regional diplomatic initiatives to increase security in the Persian Gulf. The two countries also have extensive economic links, especially in the hydrocarbons sector.^[2] Qatar has also developed international educational institutions in the region to cater to the Middle Eastern market. Qatar also hosts an American military facility.^[3]

Educational ties

Hundreds of Qatari students study in the United States. Six U.S. universities have branch campuses in Qatar's Education City complex. There are Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUQ), Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q), Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ), Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Qatar),^[4] and Northwestern University^[5] in 2008.

Diplomatic exchanges

Diplomatic visits

Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani last visited Washington on 24 February 2015,^[6] and President George W. Bush visited Qatar in 2003 where he spoke to troops stationed there.^[7] Donald Rumsfeld, the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006, also visited Qatar in 2002.^[8] Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Qatar in February, 2010,^[9] and Secretary John Kerry traveled to Qatar in March, 2013.^[10]

Residential staff

Principal U.S. officials include:

• Ambassador—Dana Shell Smith^[11]
• Deputy Chief of Mission—Ian McCary^[12]

The U.S. maintains an embassy^[13] in Doha, Qatar.

Military

Beginning in 1992, Qatar has built intimate military ties with the United States, and is now the location of U.S. Central Command’s Forward Headquarters and the Combined Air Operations Center.

As of 2015, the following American bases currently exist:

• Al Udeid Air Base
• As Sayliyah Army Base

In 2003, the US military base Doha International Air Base (also known as Camp Snoopy) was closed.^[14]

2014 deal

In 2014, the United States sold $11 billion worth of arms to Qatar, including AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and Patriot and Javelin defense systems.^[15] Qatar also announced that it would invest in NH90 helicopters from NH Industries for $2.76 billion.^[16]

References

1. "Background Note: Qatar". U.S. Department of State. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
2. "The Importance of Qatar to the US Economy". Arab-American Business. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
3. "Military Bases in Qatar". Military Bases. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
4. School of Foreign Service in Qatar: Georgetown University Archived 6 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
5. "Northwestern University in Qatar". Retrieved 8 November 2008.
6. "Obama, Qatar's Amir Tamim After Their Meeting". U.S. Department of State. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
7. "George W. Bush - Remarks to Troops - Sayliyah, Qatar". Presidential Rhetoric. 5 June 2003. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
8. Wolf Blitzer (11 December 2002). "Rumsfeld secures cooperation in the Gulf". CNN. Retrieved 8 November 2008.
9. "Public Liaison E-newsletter" (PDF). U.S. Department of State. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
10. "Kerry, Qatari Prime Minister Hamad in Doha, Qatar". U.S. Department of State. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
11. "Chief of Mission". U.S. Department Of State. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
12. "Deputy Chief of Mission". U.S. Department Of State. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
13. "Embassy of the United States in Doha, Qatar". Retrieved 13 February 2012.
14. "U.S. downsizing in Gulf, quitting Camp Snoopy". World Tribune. 13 May 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
15. "Qatar buying US helicopters, missiles in multi-billion dollar deal". Business Line. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
16. "Qatar spends big on American choppers and missiles". The Washington Post. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2015.

External links

• History of Qatar - U.S. relations

• Embassy of U.S.A. - Doha
• Embassy of Qatar - Washington D.C.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Department of State website http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/index.htm (Background Notes).