Biden / al-Thani meeting: "Washington is counting a lot on Qatar"
Audio 7:30 p.m.
US President Joe Biden (l) receives, Monday, January 31, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (d), in Washington.
(Photo montage) © AFP / Jack Guez / Chip Somodevilla
By: Mikaël Ponge Follow |
Mikael Ponge Follow
3 mins
Joe Biden receives, this January 31, 2022 at the White House, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim ben Hamad al-Thani.
A first meeting against the backdrop of the Ukrainian crisis and the threat to European gas supplies.
How did Doha manage to become a strategic ally in the Middle East for the United States?
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This meeting comes in the midst of a crisis with Russia and the possible threat that an invasion of Ukraine would pose to Europe's gas supply. Qatar happens to be the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas. Can Joe Biden count on Doha to ensure European allies a gas supply in the event of a crisis? This is not certain according to
Thomas Juneau
, professor at the University of Ottawa, Canada, and specialist in the Middle East: "
Qatar's capacity to increase its production in the event of a crisis is limited
", underlines- he, recalling that if from the point of view of the Europeans "
it is the main interest, from the point of view of the United States there are many other points to discuss
". Especially from Afghanistan. "
Washington is counting a lot on Qatar
" in this dossier, notes Thomas Juneau, who recalls the role played by the emirate at the end of the United States' intervention in Afghanistan last summer, particularly in logistics for operations. evacuation.
“
The emirate has managed over the past ten years to position itself as a mediator, but also as an essential partner for the United States.
“Caught in a vice between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the best way to ensure its sovereignty, its independence, has always been for Qatar “
to bind itself to an external power
”, notes our guest, adding: “
Today, there are 10,000 American servicemen in Qatar.
By positioning itself as an indispensable player, Qatar can ensure its security and regional sovereignty.
»
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United States
Qatar
Haiti
Canada
Joe Biden
Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani
On the same subject
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