Qatar emir set to meet Biden in White House visit

Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim Al-Thani will hold talks with President Joe Biden on Monday, the first Gulf leader to visit the White House under the new US administration.

The two leaders will discuss energy issues, political developments, and ties between the two countries during the talks in Washington, according to a statement from the White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki last week.

He mentioned that talks will cover "the stability of global energy supplies", appearing to reference the ongoing threat by Russia to cut gas supplies to Europe, amid a stand-off between the West and Moscow over Ukraine, according to Al Jazeera.

The Iran nuclear talks, energy security in Europe, and the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan will dominate the talks, according to Ali Bakeer, Research Assistant Professor at Ibn Khaldon Center at Qatar University.

"It is a vital and important visit and can be read as a huge goal for Qatar's diplomacy objectives and its regional and international role," Bakeer told The New Arab. 

Sheikh Tamim is the first Gulf state leader to visit the White House since Joe Biden took office in January 2021, highlighting the continued close ties between Qatar and the US.

Khatibzadeh nonetheless noted "very significant progress" over the previous three weeks in negotiations over the lifting of sanctions and nuclear commitments, as well as obtaining guaranteeshttps://t.co/VTWDAikJvp

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) January 31, 2022

"I think this visit will elevate Qatar's status in the region and overall the success of Doha's foreign policy and diplomatic efforts," he said.

Qatar is one of the world's biggest gas producers and a leader in LNG exports.

Europe is amid one of the biggest diplomatic crises since the Second World War with the risk Russia could invade Ukraine.

The US is also taking part in indirect talks with Iran to revive a nuclear deal, which President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018.

Qatar's emir met Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in Doha in January.

Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani's flew into Tehran last week for talks Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian, amid a crunch time for the Iran nuclear talks.

Qatar has also been a key player in Afghanistan, a country on the verge of a major humanitarian crisis since a takeover of the country by the Taliban last year.