How Qatar yet again proved indispensable to regional peace

"I'd like to thank the Highly Respected Emir of Qatar for all that he has done in seeking Peace for the Region"… it was with this post on his Truth Social account that US President Donald Trump addressed the Qatari Emir, thanking him for all his efforts towards peace in the region after Iran's missile attack on the American Al Udeid Air Base on the evening of June 23.

While a US Department of Defence official reported that there were no casualties, the Qatari foreign ministry condemned the attack, which it described as a blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and airspace, as well as of international law and the UN Charter.

Despite the attack, Qatar has successfully played the role of mediator to push Israel and Iran towards a ceasefire, with Reuters quoting a senior Iranian official stating that his country had agreed to a ceasefire with Israel thanks to Qatari mediation as well as the US proposal.

The fact that the other Arab states rushed to condemn the violation of Qatar's sovereignty has highlighted the integral position Doha holds with regards to Arab affairs, as well as its effective role in securing peace deals, and its clear preference for diplomatic negotiations over war.

As President Trump has announced, the war between Israel and Iran is over, with Doha having played the most prominent role in blocking its descent into a major conflict. The strength of Qatar's influence among the Arab states has long been evident through its close engagement with their affairs and concerns.  

What was also highlighted during the attack was that Qatar demonstrated its defensive capabilities in confronting the Iranian missiles. This confirmed that Doha, which works hard to protect the interests of nations, and goes to huge lengths to bring about peace, security and stability, is also fully equipped to defend its citizens and all those residing on Qatari soil against any form of aggression.

This reflects the state's unwavering commitment to the safety and security of its people and residents, and highlights the Emir's great sense of responsibility and the fact that he places Qatar's continued greatness among nations as his top priority.

The crucial role Doha played in absorbing the strike and securing a regional settlement has given the US something it couldn't have achieved through the military strikes it launched against Iran's nuclear facilities. The Trump administration was attempting to impose peace on Iran and the region through sheer force, but this approach failed – and only increased Tehran's determination to retaliate. It was Qatar's diplomatic intervention that led to the ceasefire.

This unfolding of events has prompted Trump to thank the Emir of Qatar and again express his admiration for him - especially since Sheikh Tamim has succeeded in not only preventing a general escalation of war in the region, but has also played a key role in averting its development into a larger-scale conflict on multiple fronts.

The most worrying of these potential fronts to the US was the possible economic war, after Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz - an act that could have triggered a global economic "chokehold" - given that 20% of the world's energy supplies pass through this strait.

"Thank you, Qatar" are words felt deeply by every Arab, not just President Trump. This phrase resonates in particular with the people of Gaza, who sense the Qatari state's firm stance in support of their cause. While Qatar's efforts have focused on easing Palestinian suffering in the face of Israel's war machine, and extending a helping hand to the people of Gaza in particular, its media has also staunchly defended their rights.

Moreover, Qatar gave its support to the revolutionaries in Syria in their fight for liberation against the tyrant Bashar al-Assad, and stood by the Syrian people as they rose up demanding freedom and democracy. Qatar backed them during the most difficult periods of that lengthy conflict and remained supportive even after much of the Arab world began reopening relations with the regime – a regime once isolated for years.

"Thank you, Qatar" are also words that filled the streets of Lebanon from north to south after the 2006 July War, when the Lebanese people and their government expressed their gratitude to Qatar for the diplomatic role it took on to end the aggression at the time, as well as for its aid and efforts towards post-war reconstruction.

Qatar continues to play this role today, which led to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to visit Doha earlier this year, where he affirmed Lebanon's solidarity with this "brotherly nation" that has never hesitated to support Lebanon on all fronts.

The many actions Qatar has taken, under the leadership of its Emir, reflects a genuine desire to promote peace, openness, and stability, both regionally and internationally. For instance, Qatar has played an active role in mediating prisoner exchange deals between Russia and Ukraine in their ongoing war, and has supported peoples around the world to the best of its ability on various international humanitarian issues.

All of the above has prompted President Trump to repeatedly express his admiration for Sheikh Tamim, seeing him as someone capable of achieving settlements and peace, while the US president, in contrast, often resorts to wishful slogans and statements without being able to deliver on them. The war in Ukraine is a clear example.

Jirar Dib is a writer and professor of Political Thought at the Lebanese University. 

Have questions or comments? Email us at: editorial-english@newarab.com

Opinions expressed in this article remain those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The New Arab, its editorial board or staff.