Is Qatar the Middle East’s New Peacemaker or a Tactical Hedger?
Qatar is a small Kingdom in the Gulf region that retains a significant position in the Middle Eastern, International, and Global Muslim affairs. It is ruled by the Al-Thani family, which is engaged in political, economic, business, and cultural affairs, not only as rulers of Qatar but also through the development of personal liaisons with power brokers and influential entities worldwide. Qatar retains a hedging position in global politics as it tends to keep strategic ties with conflicting actors on every side. Its leadership has closer ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran as well as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It hosts the ‘Forward Headquarters’ of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) at Al-Udeid Airbase, Abu Nakhlah, and also has the deployment of several thousand Turkish troops operating under a Turkish-Qatari joint force command.
At the same time, Qatar retained limited ties with Israel on a timely basis and also hosts offices of prominent Islamist organizations including ‘Afghan Taliban’ and Palestinian “Hamas”. The central question is why Qatar has maintained closer relationships with all conflicting parties, even in the face of potential pressures from more powerful regional actors. This is particularly notable during the Saudi-led Arab diplomatic blockade involving Egypt, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Another concern raised by experts and scholars originates from Qatar, as its government has maintained ties with groups such as the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, which has faced scrutiny not only from the Egyptian government but also from several other regional actors. At the same time, Qatari leadership has actively pursued significant mediation and peacemaking initiatives through its diplomatic efforts.
Qatar’s relationship with every conflicting side can be understood from its determination towards several important factors imitating its modus operandi defined under the guidelines of its foreign policy and soft power approach. First of all, Qatar has one of the major natural gas reserves across the globe and has proven itself as a potential supplier of energy in the shape of liquefied natural gas (LNG). It has the potential to obtain the 25% capacity of its global supplies by aiming to produce 142 metric tons (MT) by 2030. LNG is not a zero carbon emission fuel, but it is considered one of the major alternatives to coal and oil for electricity production with the ability to discharge in the atmosphere. Nonetheless, Doha has been exploring the possibility of utilizing such fuel as a geopolitical instrument to enhance its economic and strategic influence. This consideration arises as major energy consumers look to liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative, prompted by the Western sanctions imposed on Russia’s energy supplies following its invasion of Ukraine.
The second factor involves the strategic positioning of two potential competitors in the Muslim World and the Middle East: Iran and Saudi Arabia. Given its proximity to the pivotal geopolitical flashpoint of the Strait of Hormuz, Qatar maintains a stance of fostering closer relationships with nearly all regional actors to advance its economic interests. The Kingdom has actively participated in restoring diplomatic channels by mediating between Tehran and Riyadh, emphasizing the importance of establishing a sustainable relationship for enhanced stability in the region. In light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza since 2023, Qatar has taken a constructive role by collaborating with Egypt and the United States to facilitate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Despite facing criticism for hosting Hamas officials and leadership for years, Qatar’s position in this regard has been upheld as that of a potential player in regional affairs. This factor ultimately helps the small kingdom elevate itself as a hub for diplomacy and mediation between conflicting sides, positioning it as a soft power actor similar to Norway. Nevertheless, Qatar has also positioned itself to facilitate dialogue between Iran and Israel in an effort to further curb violence and instability in the region, despite the ceasefire being disrupted by the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip. Beyond this, Qatar has also played a role in reducing hostilities in Africa. It has actively reached out to all parties in Sudan to mitigate violence and has been providing humanitarian aid to the region.
On the other hand, Qatar’s leadership is focusing on peacemaking efforts by mediating a ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between its government and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, while also engaging with the government of Rwanda, which has direct stakes in the conflict. Qatar’s Emir, HH Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, conducted a trilateral meeting with the involved parties, announcing an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire, which was endorsed by other African nations. Qatar’s facilitation of such efforts highlights its ambition to extend its influence beyond the Middle East and the Muslim world, using its soft power to establish a presence in different regions.
Furthermore, Qatar’s engagement with all conflicting sides reflects its proactive approach to identifying early geopolitical shifts and mitigating potential conflicts before they escalate. This strategy positions Qatar as a significant player in global diplomacy, not solely due to its soft power image or its pursuit of regional stability, but also because of its ability to hedge between opposing actors. By doing so, Qatar strengthens its standing among key international players, enabling it to achieve broader strategic, economic, and political objectives. Looking ahead, Qatar envisions itself as a key geopolitical player in a world increasingly focused on cleaner and renewable energy sources, for which the kingdom is strategically positioning itself for long-term sustainability.
The views and opinions expressed in this article/paper are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Spine Times.
Syed Haris Shah
The writer is a graduate of Peace and Conflict Studies from the National Defence University, Islamabad.
