Category: Qatar

Source: Government of Qatar

New York, May 20, 2026
The State of Qatar has renewed its call for stronger humanitarian diplomacy as a critical tool for safeguarding civilians in conflict zones during a high-level United Nation event in New York.

The event, organized on the sidelines of the Protection of Civilians Week 2026, was hosted by the State of Qatar’s permanent mission to the UN in partnership with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and several international partners, including the permanent missions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of Sweden, the European Union, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Center for Civilians in Conflict, the Qatar Red Crescent Society, the International Humanitarian Law Center, Geneva Call and Save the Children. 

It brought together diplomats and humanitarian organizations to discuss ways of improving civilian protection amid growing global crises.

In a recorded address, HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad said humanitarian diplomacy remained central to Doha’s foreign policy, which she said was based on dialogue, peaceful conflict resolution and respect for international law.

Her Excellency described mediation as a cornerstone of Qatar’s approach, highlighting what she called an “integrated model” combining mediation efforts with rapid humanitarian response to improve aid access and support protection initiatives in complex conflict environments.

Dr Al Misnad said challenges facing civilian protection were no longer purely operational, but increasingly political, particularly regarding respect for international humanitarian law and the delivery of aid to affected populations.

Opening the event, HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani said humanitarian assistance was often obstructed while civilians continued to face attacks and violations of international humanitarian law.

Her Excellency warned that decisions concerning humanitarian corridors and aid delivery were frequently made far from realities on the ground, stressing the need for stronger political and diplomatic engagement at the highest levels.

Sheikha Alya said humanitarian diplomacy had become an essential tool for mobilizing political will and integrating humanitarian concerns into political and multilateral processes.

She also reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to mediation and humanitarian efforts in several regions, including joint initiatives in Gaza and support for peace efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

HE Tom Fletcher, the UN’s Emergency Relief Coordinator, urged the international community to use its political influence and diplomatic leverage to protect civilians, praising the State of Qatar’s partnership with OCHA. 

Source: Government of Qatar

Rome, May 20, 2026
The State of Qatar and the Italian Republic have held high-level talks focusing on bilateral cooperation and regional security, including efforts to maintain the ceasefire between the United States and Iran and reduce tensions across the Middle East.
HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi met on Wednesday in Rome with senior Italian officials, including HE Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi, HE Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and European Union Committee in the Chamber of Deputies, Giulio Tremonti, and HE Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Inter-group for the Gulf Countries at the Italian Parliament, Salvatore Caiata.
The meetings reviewed relations between the two countries and explored ways to strengthen cooperation across a range of areas.
Discussions also focused on developments in the region, particularly the ceasefire between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and reinforcing regional stability.
During the meetings, HE Dr Al Khulaifi reiterated the State of Qatar’s support for resolving conflicts through peaceful means and reaffirmed Doha’s commitment to promoting peace and stability at both regional and international levels. 

Source: Government of Qatar

Source: Government of Qatar

Source: Government of Qatar

Source: Government of Qatar

London | May 20, 2026

The State of Qatar participated in the Global Partnerships Conference, held in London and co-hosted by the United Kingdom and the Republic of South Africa. 

HE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, represented the State of Qatar at the conference. 

The conference was attended by a number of senior officials, ministers, and heads of development and humanitarian organizations from around the world. 

The Minister of State for International Cooperation participated as a keynote speaker in the opening panel discussion moderated by HE Chief Economic Advisor to the UK Prime Minister, Baroness Nemat Shafik, pertaining to building systems to overcome challenges of the 21st century. This was addressed in two themes. 

The first theme addressed the profound changes in the current political and developmental environment, revealing structural imbalances in the existing international cooperation system, which is no longer adequate to address the scale of the crises, while the second theme explored the next decade and the fundamental changes required to recalibrate the international system. 

In the first session, Her Excellency reviewed Qatar’s pioneering experience and its globally recognized initiatives, emphasizing that Qatar places supporting the least developed countries at the forefront of its foreign policy. She highlighted the significant financial contributions and donations made by Qatar, including a USD 60 million grant to support development activities and capacity-building projects in these countries. 

Her Excellency stated that Qatar found itself at the crossroads of three simultaneous crises within a single year. These included mediation efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate the delivery of aid to the Strip, its efforts to reunite Ukrainian children with their families, and Qatar Fund for Development’s (QFFD) funding of more than 70 countries facing food, climate, and debt crises. 

She pointed out that the current international system has collapsed on the premise of separating humanitarian work from development and peace, highlighting that the assumption of a monopoly on international decision-making has crumbled. 

Gulf and Arab development funds, sovereign wealth funds, and regional mediators have become the cornerstones of the system’s continuity, she said, noting that Qatar alone provided USD 4.8 billion in foreign aid to the least developed countries in 2024. 

In this context, Her Excellency called for the swift translation of the financial commitments made at the Second Doha World Summit for Social Development into rapid, tangible results. 

Commenting on the next decade, HE Minister of State for International Cooperation presented a practical roadmap based on several key areas: transitioning from fragmented funding to national platforms led and owned by the recipient countries rather than the donors, enabling them to lead coordination, and urging the implementation of the Doha Action Plan. 

She emphasized the importance of financing social protection and human capital development as essential long-term infrastructure, citing the Education Above All Foundation’s experience in successfully enrolling over 16 million children in education across 60 countries. She called for the adoption of definitions that would enable these sectors to access concessional and blended financing tools, building upon the existing “From Seville to Doha” initiative in collaboration with Spain and the International Labour Organization. 

She further stressed the importance of including humanitarian mediation and ensuring humanitarian access as key enablers for the flow of development investments. Qatar’s investment in solidifying its role as a trusted mediator from Gaza to Afghanistan and Colombia, and its launch of the “Humanitarian Diplomacy Initiative,” are all part of Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy. 

Her Excellency affirmed Qatar’s full readiness to be an active and pivotal partner in translating these three pillars into tangible reality on the ground.

Source: Government of Qatar

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha, May 19, 2026

Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari affirmed that the State of Qatar continues its full support for the efforts led by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan aimed at reaching an agreement that prevents a return to escalation, stressing that it is not possible at present to predict the results of the ongoing contacts and efforts, in light of the diplomatic activity in the region.

During the Ministry’s weekly media briefing, Dr. Al Ansari said that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, along with a number of Qatari officials are continuing their intensive contacts with their counterparts in the region and the world, with the aim of ensuring the continuation of the ceasefire, preventing a return to escalation, and securing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, in order to spare the peoples of the region the repercussions of any new escalation.

Regarding the nature of the contacts that took place during the past period, he indicated that the contacts focused mainly on two main issues, mainly ensuring the continuation of the ceasefire and not returning to escalation in the region, and sparing the people the risks of any further escalation.

He said that no one wants a repeat of the escalation that the region witnessed during the past period, which calls for continued regional coordination and joint action in support of the Pakistani mediation efforts. he noted that supporting this mediation is a priority at the present stage, as it is the entity that conducts official communications between the parties.

Regarding the statement issued by HE President of the United States of America Donald Trump on Monday, Dr. Al Ansari said that the leaders of the region have emphasized since the first day of the crisis the need to maintain calm and give the diplomatic track a full opportunity to reach an agreement that guarantees the security and stability of the region. He pointed out that the State of Qatar has warned for years that the continuation of escalation in the region without establishing a sustainable peace will lead to a comprehensive war that will affect the region and the world.

He added that what was stated in the US President’s statement came in response to the contacts made by the leaders of the Gulf states, with the aim of giving diplomacy another chance and continuing contacts. He stressed the continued communication between the leaders of the region and international partners to ensure that there is no return to escalation.

Regarding the decision to postpone the American attack on Iran, as announced by the US President, the Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the State of Qatar’s stance is based on its cooperation with its partners in the United States, as well as its keenness to protect the people of the region from the repercussions of any war or escalation. He noted that the statements issued by the leaders of the region unanimously supported the Pakistani mediation efforts, the ceasefire, and giving diplomatic means a chance to reach a final agreement.

Regarding the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Dr. Al Ansari pointed out that Articles 38 and 39 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea stipulate the right of transit passage through international straits. He noted that this right guarantees continuous and rapid freedom of navigation, and no state bordering these straits, including Iran, may obstruct transit passage or suspend this right for any purpose, including security reasons.

He indicated that any attempt to close the strait or impose a legal arrangement that restricts freedom of navigation in it is a violation of international law. He reiterated the State of Qatar’s emphasis on the need to respect freedom of navigation in the strait, and on its right to safe passage through it as a natural international waterway.

The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the State of Qatar is not concerned with any arrangements aimed at altering the status quo in the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, Qatar is solely invested in reopening the strait to completely free navigation in full compliance with international law.

He explained that Qatar’s supply chains for basic commodities have functioned normally despite the closure of the strait, without the need to tap into strategic reserves, thanks to pre-established contingency plans and alternatives.

He noted, however, that the primary challenge currently lies in exporting energy products, which carries a direct impact on global energy security and prices.

He reiterated that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz further complicates supply chain movements across the region as a whole.

Regarding the movement of Qatari gas tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, Dr. Al Ansari clarified that the tankers Al Khairitiyat and Mahzam crossed the strait over the past few days heading toward the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. This occurred within the framework of regional coordination and communication with the Pakistani side to ensure their safe passage, emphasizing that this does not signify the reopening of the strait or a return to normal gas tanker traffic.

He confirmed that more than ten fully loaded tankers remain stranded inside the Strait of Hormuz, alongside a large number of vessels belonging to Qatar and other nations, all still awaiting an opportunity to enter or exit through the strait.

He emphasized Qatar’s full support for Pakistani mediation and its continuous monitoring of regional developments, noting that no one can currently predict the outcome of the ongoing communications, whether positively or negatively.

In a related context, the Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Qatar’s firm stance rejecting the attacks launched by Iran.

He stated that the goal is to preserve the sovereignty of the State of Qatar and the prosperity of the people, and Qatar has taken all necessary measures to ensure the security and safety of everyone within the country.

The Iranian people, he continued, like other peoples of the region, deserve to live in security, peace, and prosperity away from wars and conflicts. They are part of the population of this region, and Qatar enjoys positive relations with them.

However, he added, Iran chose to target the State of Qatar during this war, which has threatened relations with Qatar, affirming Qatar’s keenness and adherence to the principles of good neighborliness with all countries.

Dr. Al Ansari noted that Qatar is not in a position to provide indicators regarding the future of negotiations, but it continues to support the diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan and is intensifying its contacts with various regional and international partners in support of mediation efforts, expressing hope that these endeavors will contribute to reducing escalation and reaching a peaceful resolution to this crisis.

Regarding the NATO meetings to be held in the Republic of Turkiye next month, the Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the State of Qatar is a party to NATO’s Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) and maintains an ongoing partnership with the Alliance, pointing out that there are forces belonging to NATO member states stationed in Doha.

He added that Qatar’s participation in these meetings comes within the framework of its key defense partnerships; therefore, representation and presence at this summit are part of this partnership, particularly in light of the current security implications and developments the region is witnessing.

Source: Government of Qatar

Source: Government of Qatar