United States President Joe Biden on Thursday, 10 March 2022, has officially designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally of the United States, fulfilling the promise that he had made to Qatar during H.H. the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's visit to the White House in January this year.

The designation is granted by the United States to close, non-NATO allies that have strategic working relationships with the US military.

During the meeting with H.H. the Amir earlier this year, the US president highlighted fifty years of partnership between the two countries, noting that the past year, the partnership between the US and Qatar has been central to many of the US most vital interests: relocating tens of thousands of Afghans; maintaining stability in Gaza and providing lifesaving assistance to the Palestinians; deterring threats across the Middle East; and a lot more.

President Biden also said:

"Qatar is a good friend and a reliable and capable partner. And I'm notifying Congress that I will designate Qatar as a major non-NATO ally to reflect the importance of our relationship. I think it's long overdue."

On 31 January 2022, in a letter to the US Speaker of the House and Senate President, President Joe Biden stated:

"I am providing notice of my intent to designate Qatar as a Major Non-NATO Ally.

I am making this designation in recognition of Qatar’s many years of contributions to US-led efforts in the US Central Command area of responsibility and in recognition of our own national interest in deepening bilateral defense and security cooperation with the State of Qatar."

On its website, the US State Department said:

"The Major Non-NATO Ally designation is a powerful symbol of the close relationship the United States shares with those countries and demonstrates our deep respect for the friendship for the countries to which it is extended”.

Qatar is now the third country in the Gulf region after Bahrain and Kuwait to become a US major non-NATO ally.

Source: The White House (whitehouse.gov), US State Department
Cover image: Shutterstock

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