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In this episode, Dr. Ariel Admoni, a researcher specializing in Qatar, joins the show to discuss the complex and intricate relationship between Qatar and the United States. On one hand, Qatar is home to the forward headquarters of the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM), the largest American base in the Middle East. On the other hand, Qatar funds activities and organizations, including Hamas and the Taliban, that work against the interests and values of the United States. Dr. Admoni outlines the historical development of the relationship between the two countries and explains how Qatar has made itself an essential strategic asset for Washington.
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Early beginnings
According to Dr. Admoni, the first contacts between Americans and Qataris began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the activity of American missionaries in the Gulf region. At that time, Qatar was a remote and undeveloped area, and the missionaries operated there with relative freedom, in direct contact with the local ruler. Until World War I, the territory was subject to a struggle for control between the Ottoman Empire and Britain. After the war, in 1916, a protectorate treaty was signed that placed Qatar under British influence, which lasted until its independence in 1971.
From oil to independence
With the discovery of oil, a competition began between British and American oil companies for the Qatari ruler’s favor. According to Dr. Admoni, the ruler exploited this competition to secure better economic terms, explaining to the British representative that the Americans were simply offering more money. After the British withdrawal in 1971, the United States began to strengthen its diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar. Initially, the Qataris were hesitant, but as exports to the United States grew, the relationship warmed. As early as 1983, initial military cooperation began between Doha and the U.S. Central Command.
The American base moves to Qatar
The turning point in the relationship came after the first Gulf War. The American presence at the Dhahran base in Saudi Arabia sparked fierce opposition from the public and the kingdom’s conservative religious establishment. Meanwhile, a new leader came to power in Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who deposed his father in 1995. Hamad, who was educated in Britain, began to work vigorously to build Qatar’s international standing. He identified the opportunity, and when the Saudis pressured the Americans to leave, he offered to host the base on Qatari territory and even to fund its construction and maintenance. Al-Udeid Air Base became the center of American activity in the region, and its importance grew even more after the September 11 attacks and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Who works for whom
Qatar funds the maintenance of the American base to the tune of about 300 million dollars a year. According to Dr. Admoni, this funding gives it enormous leverage over Washington. Qatar has skillfully made itself an essential asset for the United States, regardless of the ruling party. It invests not only in ties with the administration, but also in American civil society. It donates vast sums to universities, funds training for school principals, and even supports foundations linked to politicians on both sides of the aisle, such as the “Barbara Bush Foundation for Education.” At the same time, it gives interviews to right-wing media outlets like Breitbart, thereby cultivating ties with all ends of the political spectrum.
Mediation with terrorist organizations
The other unique asset that Qatar offers the Americans, Dr. Admoni explains, is its extensive ties with terrorist organizations and Islamist actors like Hamas and the Taliban. Qatar presents itself as being able to get its hands dirty for the United States and serve as a vital mediator. This role makes it a central hub in the regional diplomatic network and gives it power and influence far exceeding its size. The United States has become dependent on Qatari mediation, whether in negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan or in talks with Hamas for the release of hostages.
Washington’s red line
In response to a listener’s question, Dr. Admoni estimates that there is almost no red line Qatar could cross in the eyes of the Americans. He mentions an anecdote according to which President George W. Bush joked about the need to bomb the Al Jazeera offices, because the network’s cameras were always present alongside terrorists. In other words, American awareness of the problematic nature of Qatar exists, but Washington sees it as the price of doing business. Qatar helps the United States maintain appearances, for example, by transferring humanitarian aid to Afghanistan without officially recognizing the Taliban regime.
The presidential order and internal stability
Donald Trump recently issued a presidential order granting Qatar a security guarantee. Dr. Admoni notes that the order is not binding on future presidents, but emphasizes that support for Qatar is bipartisan. He speculates that the order was published as a counter-reaction to an Israeli strike in Doha, which in his opinion was intended to convince Trump to take a tougher line but achieved the opposite result. Regarding internal stability, Dr. Admoni believes that the assassination of a key figure would not change Qatar’s policy, but he notes that the regime is paranoid. The Ministry of Interior recently ordered citizens to return unlicensed weapons, and the Independence Day parade was canceled, possibly out of fear of a coup. The ruling Al Thani family is tightening its grip and appointing close associates to key positions, including a new defense minister who is a known Hamas supporter.
The original episode, in Hebrew: יחסי קטר - ארה״ב