Editing Politics of Qatar (section)

==Foreign relations==
{{Main|Foreign relations of Qatar}}
Qatar’s core foreign policy objective according to [[The Middle East Journal]] is "state survival" and the "desire for international prestige". Qatar became notable in international politics; and a key figure in the Arab affairs within two decades of its independent foreign policy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mediation and Qatari Foreign policy |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233600586 |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=ResearchGate |language=en}}</ref> It has an "open-door" foreign policy where it maintain ties to all parties and regional players in the region,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jesner |first=Shlomo Roiter |title=Qatar Is Using the Palestinians to Assert Its Regional Influence |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/01/26/qatar-is-using-the-palestinians-to-assert-its-regional-influence/ |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=Foreign Policy |language=en-US}}</ref> including with organizations such as [[Taliban]] and [[Hamas]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walsh |first=Declan |date=2017-07-16 |title=Qatar Opens Its Doors to All, to the Dismay of Some |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/16/world/middleeast/doha-qatar-blockade.html |access-date=2022-05-11 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Its position in the [[Middle East]] and close links with terrorist groups is seen as a great asset to western intelligence community and diplomatic relations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-01-08 |title=UK and Qatar sign pact to combat jihadis and cyber warfare - FT.com |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4d16d268-629b-11e4-9838-00144feabdc0.html |access-date=2022-05-11 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108184343/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4d16d268-629b-11e4-9838-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=8 January 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Qatar has also cultivated close foreign relationships with Western powers, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom. [[Al Udeid Air Base]] hosts American and British air forces.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Brad Lendon |title=Qatar hosts largest US military base in Mideast |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/05/middleeast/qatar-us-largest-base-in-mideast/index.html |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=CNN|date=5 June 2017 }}</ref>

On October 10, 2005, for the first time, Qatar was elected to a two-year term on the [[UN Security Council]] for 2006–2007.

According to BBC, in April 2006 Qatar announced that it will give US$50 million (£28 million) to the new [[Hamas]]-led [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian]] government.

In May 2006, Qatar pledged more than $100 million to [[Hurricane Katrina]] relief to colleges and universities in [[Louisiana]] affected by the hurricane. Some of this money was also distributed to families looking to repair damaged homes by Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans, Inc.

There were some allegations on Qatar for supporting rebels group in Syria and association with al- Nusra front also persisted in country’s profile for a long time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qatar bankrolls Syrian revolt with cash and arms - FT.com {{!}} Ghostarchive |url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/Fj4Tp |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=ghostarchive.org}}</ref> However, the Public Policy and Democracy studies research think tank recognized the nation for its execution of current peace against conflicts strategies and policy upgrades. Other discoveries from the research claimed that Qatar supported the [[United States|US]] against the [[Bashar al-Assad|Assad]] government. Additionally, the nation supported efforts to mediate a conflict-ending political transition in Syria. In March 2021, Qatar, [[Russia]], and [[Turkey]] also started a different track of talks on the [[Syrian civil war|Syrian]] peace process.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-08-28 |title=Qatar profile - Timeline |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14702609 |access-date=2023-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Görgülü |first=Dr Aybars |url=http://podem.org.tr/en/researches/qatar-and-syria-crisis/ |title=Qatar and Syria Crisis {{!}} PODEM |date=2018-03-01 |isbn=978-605-67530-3-9 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Syria's War and the Descent Into Horror |url=https://www.cfr.org/article/syrias-civil-war |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=Council on Foreign Relations |language=en}}</ref>

The government and royal family of Qatar funds the [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]] television network. The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalfia provided a loan of QAR 500 million (USD 137 million) to start the channel.<ref>Miles, Hugh.  2005,  Al-Jazeera : the inside story of the Arab news channel that is challenging the West / Hugh Miles Grove Press New York</ref> The network has been accused of being biased and taking an active role in the affairs of other countries specifically during the [[Arab Spring]] in 2011.<ref>[https://archive.today/20140805044733/http://www.sundayszaman.com/national_al-jazeera-helps-people-against-arab-regimes-angers-oppressors_234616.html Al Jazeera helps people against Arab regimes, angers oppressors]  ''Sunday's Zaman''.  Poyraz-Dogan,Yonca.  February 6, 2011.</ref> Numerous countries have [[Al Jazeera controversies and criticism|complained about allegedly biased reporting]] in support of Qatar policy. On 11 January 2015, [[The Week]] published a report in which,Al jazeera network was revealed to be non biased and non terrorist network.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is Al Jazeera a legitimate news channel? |url=https://theweek.com/articles/469049/al-jazeera-legitimate-news-channel |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=The Week |language=en}}</ref>

Most of the developed countries (plus [[Brunei]] and [[Indonesia]]) are exempt from [[visa (document)|visa]] requirements. Citizens of exempted countries can also request a joint visa that allows them to travel to Oman as well.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.onlineqatar.com/info/visa-requirements.aspx
|access-date=2012-02-15
|title=Visa Rules in Qatar}}</ref>

Qatar is member of [[ABEDA]], [[Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development|AFESD]], [[Arab League|AL]], [[Arab Monetary Fund|AMF]], [[United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia|ESCWA]], [[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]], [[Group of 77|G-77]], [[Gulf Cooperation Council|GCC]], [[International Atomic Energy Agency|IAEA]], [[International Bank for Reconstruction and Development|IBRD]], [[International Civil Aviation Organization|ICAO]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|ICRM]], [[Islamic Development Bank|IDB]], [[International Fund for Agricultural Development|IFAD]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|IFRCS]], [[International Hydrographic Organization|IHO]] (pending member), [[International Labour Organization|ILO]], [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]], [[International Maritime Organization]], [[International Mobile Satellite Organization|Inmarsat]], [[Intelsat]], [[Interpol (organization)|Interpol]], [[IOC]], [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] (correspondent), [[International Telecommunication Union|ITU]], [[Non-Aligned Movement|NAM]], [[Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries|OAPEC]], [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation|OIC]], [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons|OPCW]], [[United Nations|UN]], [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development|UNCTAD]], [[UNESCO]], [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization|UNIDO]], [[Universal Postal Union|UPU]], [[World Customs Organization|WCO]], [[World Health Organization|WHO]], [[World Intellectual Property Organization|WIPO]], [[World Meteorological Organization|WMO]], and [[World Trade Organization|WTO]].

Qatar may suffer significant geopolitical losses if there is a global transition to renewable energy. It is ranked 152 out of 156 countries in the index of Geopolitical Gains and Losses after [[energy transition]] (GeGaLo).<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Overland|first1=Indra|last2=Bazilian|first2=Morgan|last3=Ilimbek Uulu|first3=Talgat|last4=Vakulchuk|first4=Roman|last5=Westphal|first5=Kirsten|date=2019|title=The GeGaLo index: Geopolitical gains and losses after energy transition|journal=Energy Strategy Reviews|language=en|volume=26|pages=100406|doi=10.1016/j.esr.2019.100406|doi-access=free|hdl=11250/2634876|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

In September, 2014. QFFD contributed in enhancing stability for Syrian refugees. Qatar Charity facilitated access to quality education through the rehabilitation of 6 Formal schools in Turkey, [[Gaziantep]], [[Urfa]], [[Kilis]], targeting a total number of 13,540 beneficiaries and 12,860 girls and boys.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-11 |title=Qatar Fund for Development Support Syrian refugees in Turkey towards stability - Türkiye {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/turkey/qatar-fund-development-support-syrian-refugees-turkey-towards-stability |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=reliefweb.int |language=en}}</ref>

On July 10, 2017, according to documents obtained by Al Arabiya, Qatar agreed to quit supporting the Muslim Brotherhood. In order to avoid undermining relations with the Gulf, it also removed non-citizens from Qatar and refused to provide shelter to anyone from a GCC nation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Will Qatar’s Relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood Change after Gulf Reconciliation? |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/will-qatars-relationship-muslim-brotherhood-change-after-gulf-reconciliation |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=The Washington Institute |language=en}}</ref>

Qatar claims that "since 2017, Qatar feels it has been the victim of a media attack orchestrated by Abu Dhabi, with false documents and fake news."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-21 |title=Qatargate, gli emiri provano il contropiede: "L'Ue dimostri che i corruttori siamo noi" |url=https://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2022/12/21/news/qatargate_sfida_emiri_ue_dimostri_corruzione-380010344/ |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=la Repubblica |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-21 |title=la strategia degli emiri per il qatargate: negare tutto e urlare al complotto |url=http://www.dagospia.com/rubrica-29/cronache/emiri-contro-ndash-ogni-giorno-che-passa-prende-sempre-piu-corpo-336537.htm |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=www.dagospia.com}}</ref> The Qatari Government stated that they were being "exclusively criticised and attacked" by Belgian authorities and conveyed disappointment that the Belgian government "made no effort to engage with our government to establish the facts".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-12-18 |title=Qatar reiterates denial that its government involved in EU corruption case |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/qatar-reiterates-denial-that-its-government-involved-eu-corruption-case-2022-12-18/ |access-date=2023-01-21}}</ref>

In January 2021 the United States, represented by the [[United States Department of Defense]], awarded Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani with the [[Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service]], one of the highest honors bestowed by the US to officials. The then US National Security Adviser [[Robert C. O'Brien]] gave the medal to the Ambassador of Qatar to the US Sheikh Meshaal bin Hamad Al Thani, on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

This award was in recognition of his exemplary diplomatic efforts to strengthen relations between the State of Qatar and the United States, to support and advance peace efforts in Afghanistan (including the signing of the [[US–Taliban peace deal]] on February 29, 2020, as well as the launch of the [[Afghan peace process]] on September 12, 2020), to promote stability and prosperity in the Middle East North Africa region, and to resolve the Gulf Crisis through diplomacy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=QNA/Washington |date=2021-01-19 |title=FM, Qatar envoy receive US' highest medal for distinguished public service |url=https://www.gulf-times.com/story/682780/fm-qatar-envoy-receive-us-highest-medal-for-distinguished-public-service |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=Gulf Times |language=en}}</ref>

Qatar mediated a deal between the United States and [[Iran]], which in September 2023 saw the release of five prisoners in each country and the unfreezing of US$6 billion of Iranian funds, which had been frozen due to sanctions imposed by the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-18 |title=Why the U.S.-Iran Prisoner Swap Matters |url=https://time.com/6315295/us-iran-prisoner-swap/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Time |language=en}}</ref><ref name="BBC News">{{Cite news |date=2023-09-18 |title=Iran prisoner swap: US citizens freed in $6bn deal |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-66841137 |access-date=2023-10-09}}</ref> The U.S. citizens were flown to Doha and greeted by U.S. ambassador to Qatar [[Timmy T. Davis]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qatar’s separate talks with Iran, US on drones, nuclear programme: Report |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/21/qatars-separate-talks-with-iran-us-on-drones-nuclear-programme-reuters |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref> and [[Qatar Airways]] CEO [[Akbar Al Baker]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salari |first=Fatemeh |date=2023-09-19 |title=Qatar says prisoner swap could pave way for better understanding between Iran-US |url=https://dohanews.co/qatar-says-prisoner-swap-could-pave-way-for-better-understanding-between-iran-us/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Doha News {{!}} Qatar |language=en-US}}</ref> before boarding a plane to [[Washington, D.C.]].<ref name="bbc.com">{{Cite news |date=2023-09-19 |title=Five Americans freed in Iran prisoner swap land in US |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66850811 |access-date=2023-10-09}}</ref> U.S. President [[Joe Biden|Biden]] thanked [[Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani|Sheik Tamim]] and Qatari officials for their role in the mediation as well as establishing a "Humanitarian channel" for Iran.<ref>{{Cite web |title=On Iran’s Release of Unjustly Detained U.S. Citizens |url=https://www.state.gov/on-irans-release-of-unjustly-detained-u-s-citizens/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=United States Department of State |language=en}}</ref> The US$6 billion were released to banks in Doha <ref name="bbc.com"/> under the condition that Iran could use the funds only for humanitarian purposes.<ref name="BBC News"/>