Qatar’s Amir vows to defend sovereignty while maintaining mediation efforts amid regional conflict

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani outlined Qatar’s response to Iranian attacks, disruptions to LNG exports, and the country’s economic priorities during his Shura Council address.Qatar will continue to pursue diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts without compromising its sovereignty, Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said on Tuesday, as he reflected on the impact of Iranian attacks and the wider regional war on the country. Addressing the opening of the 55th Shura Council’s second session in Doha, the Amir praised the armed forces and security institutions for their response to the Iranian attacks, which were a blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, stressing that Qatar’s ability to withstand the crisis was the result of years of preparation.“Despite the ongoing war, it is our duty to remind ourselves that the LNG would not have been possible and our security would not have been possible without God and our military forces that worked around the clock to protect our land, sea and sky and they showed the utmost levels of preparedness,” said Sheikh Tamim. The Amir said Qatar remained committed to mediation, but made clear that this would not prevent the country from defending itself, emphasising that protecting its sovereignty did not contradict the efforts to contain the conflict.“Our commitment to dialogue and peaceful solutions does not mean being complacent about defending our country. Likewise, our right to defend our sovereignty does not conflict with our determination to prevent a wider war,” asserted Sheikh Tamim, while also reiterating that diplomatic channels are a path which Doha has consistently preferred over war. Sheikh Tamim also thanked the citizens and residents for their resilience during what he described as exceptional circumstances, saying the crisis had once again demonstrated the strength of Qatar’s institutions. Four pillars guiding Qatar’s responseSheikh Tamim outlined four pillars that shaped Qatar’s approach to the conflict: defending the country without being drawn into war, maintaining supply chains, working towards a ceasefire and reopening maritime routes, and encouraging negotiations to resolve ongoing conflicts. Amir Sheikh Tamim said Qatar had worked to maintain its role as a global energy supplier while keeping its diplomatic channels open. The Amir also highlighted the importance of cooperation among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, calling for greater efforts to protect freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and safeguard the region’s water infrastructure.“These attacks and events have shown once again, unfortunately, that what happens in one region cannot be separated from what happens in the whole world,” said the Amir. The Amir warned that developments in the Gulf could not be separated from the wider international consequences. “The GCC countries worked together because the protection of the GCC countries and their stability is not something that we can overlook and it’s imposing on us to double our efforts to protect the freedom of navigation in the GCC, in the Strait of Hormuz and also to protect the water infrastructure in our region. We will continue to work with our brothers and international partners in order to keep our region secure and stable.”Hormuz closure disrupts Qatar’s LNG exportsThe Amir acknowledged that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the damage to the LNG facilities in Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City had affected the country’s energy exports, stressing that any disruptions to Qatar’s LNG production would also affect global consumers, given the country’s significant share of the international market. “We have achieved or registered 2.2 per cent growth in terms of GDP and the inflation was stable at around 2 per cent,” Sheikh Tamim said while addressing the council. “In the first quarter, the revenues have decreased by 14 per cent without touching the essential services or the development projects and this is not something done easily and it should receive the gratitude it deserves.”The Amir attributed Qatar’s ability to manage the economic fallout partly to policies introduced before the crisis, including reducing debt, maintaining foreign currency liquidity and adopting conservative oil price assumptions. QAR 221 billion in development projects over five yearsLooking ahead, Sheikh Tamim said Qatar has QAR 221 billion worth of development projects planned over the next five years, including infrastructure, public-private partnerships and investments in hospitality and real estate. “In the energy sector, the Northfield expansion continues as planned in order to increase the capacity of LNG production of the state of Qatar and the Golden Pass project in the United States has also registered great progress,” said Sheikh Tamim.“Qatar Energy external or overseas projects continue their expansions including solar energy and also increasing the water security in the terms of food safety and food security.”Sheikh Tamim said Qatar should not simply aim to return to where it stood before the crisis, but use the experience to strengthen its economy, diversify its sources of growth and develop national capabilities. He also highlighted education and technology as priorities, calling for stronger public sector performance and greater emphasis on competence and accountability. Amir calls for accountability over Gaza genocide. Turning to Palestine, Sheikh Tamim reaffirmed that Palestine remains at the forefront of Qatar’s priorities. “We reaffirm that what happened in the Gaza Strip is without any doubt a genocide and those who committed this crime should be held accountable,” Sheikh Tamim said towards the close of the address to the Shura Council.The Amir also warned against continued Israeli aggression against Palestinians, citing settler attacks in the occupied West Bank under the protection of the Israeli forces and the repeated incursions into the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, describing them as violations of international law, the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law.Sheikh Tamim also reiterated Qatar’s commitment to supporting political solutions in Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia, stressing the importance of negotiated settlements to restore peace and stability.