[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 83 (Monday, May 16, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E507-E509]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   COMMENDING QATAR AND THE U.S. ON 50 YEARS OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON BACON

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 16, 2022

  Mr. BACON. Madam Speaker, it is with great personal satisfaction that 
I commend the United States and Qatar on fifty years of diplomatic 
relations.

[[Page E508]]

  During Operation Iraqi Freedom, I had the honor to command an 
expeditionary squadron that was based in Qatar. This enabled me to work 
closely with our Qatari allies, who worked closely with the American 
military. I gained great respect for their dedication to our shared 
missions. I was also able to establish friendships with a number of 
Qatari military leaders; relations that have been renewed every time I 
have visited Qatar in subsequent years.
  America's relationship with Qatar was not originally based upon 
military or strategic principles. In fact, when the United States first 
established diplomatic relations with Qatar 1971, the new Persian Gulf 
nation was hardly a military power.
  In 1916, Qatar became a British protectorate, which meant that 
Britain agreed to defend Qatar from all aggression by sea and support 
in case of a land attack. When Qatar declared its independence in 
September 1971, no one could have predicted that this small Persian 
Gulf nation would develop into an economic and strategic powerhouse.
  It is a tribute to leaders and its citizens that Qatar has 
accomplished so much in so many different areas. Much of the credit 
goes to the royal family and other political leaders who allocated 
spending on social programs, including housing, health, education, and 
pensions. Over time this enabled the relatively small population of 
Qatar to become better educated, healthier and committed to the welfare 
of the nation.
  Qatar's leaders were well aware of the nation's precarious position 
as a major energy supplier, but without the means to defend itself and 
its resources. Thus, the nation began to build up its defense 
capabilities.
  In 1991, Qatar played a significant role in the Gulf War, 
particularly during the Battle of Khafji in which Qatari tanks rolled 
through the streets of the town and engaged Iraqi troops. In addition, 
Qatar allowed coalition troops from Canada to use the country as an 
airbase to launch aircraft from Qatar. Qatar also permitted air forces 
from the United States and France to operate in its territories.
  In the aftermath of this, both nations agreed upon the need for a 
Defense Cooperation Agreement. This pact, which has subsequently been 
expanded, has served as the basis for military collaboration. In 1996, 
Qatar built Al Udeid Air Base at the cost of more than $1 billion.
  Significantly, military cooperation between the United States and 
Qatar continued to expand. In 2003, Qatar served as the U.S. Central 
Command headquarters and one of the main launching sites of the 
invasion of Iraq. As mentioned, I was able to participate in this 
operation.
  Al Udeid is now home to the largest U.S. military base in the Middle 
East. In a region sensitive about the presence of U.S. military forces, 
it is notable that Qatar is not only allowing expansion of Al Udeid, 
but also funding it and managing the construction. In fact, the Qatari 
government has provided over $8 billion in funding for al-Udeid Air 
Base since 2003. After renovations and expansions, Al Udeid can 
accommodate up to 120 aircraft and 10,000 troops. The Al Udeid Air Base 
has the longest runway in the Gulf region, about 5000 meters or 15,000 
feet.
  President Joe Biden met in Washington with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh 
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on January 31, 2022. This meeting was the 
first that President Biden had with a regional leader since he became 
president. It was a clear signal that Washington views Doha as an 
important asset in the region. This was underscored when the President 
told the Emir that the United States would nominate Qatar as a ``Major 
Non-NATO Ally'' (MNNA).
  This MNNA status recognizes the bilateral security cooperation 
between the United States and Qatar has matured to the level beyond the 
already deep defense partnership that had developed and nourished over 
the course of decades. The MNNA status recognizes Qatar's growing 
responsibility as a strong and enduring U.S. partner in countering 
violent extremism, combating terrorism, and deterring external 
aggressors. It also reinforces U.S. military access to Qatari military 
facilities, allows prepositioning of U.S. armor and other military 
materiel, and supports U.S. training of Qatar's military forces.
  American officials have come to realize the potential Qatar offered 
to American interests in the region, both politically as well as 
militarily. Soon after the Gulf War, the emir announced his intention 
for Qatar to move more toward democracy and permitted more liberal 
press and municipal elections as a precursor to expected parliamentary 
elections. A new constitution was approved via public referendum in 
April 2003 and came into effect in June 2005. Economic, social, and 
democratic reforms occurred in the proceeding years.
  In 2003, a woman was appointed to the cabinet as minister of 
education. In October 2021, Qataris voted in the Gulf Arab state's 
first legislative elections for two-thirds of the advisory Shura 
Council, and turnout was over 63 percent. There were women candidates 
and women have been appointed to seats in the Council.
  Qatar has also been an invaluable asset on a number of diplomatic 
fronts. Qatar quietly assisted in ending the Israel-Hamas war in May 
2021 and continues to be helpful in seeking to improve Israeli 
relations with Palestinians. Qatar is also working to reduce tensions 
between the United States and Iran.
  Without a doubt, Qatar's most significant diplomatic and humanitarian 
efforts were in the evacuation of more than 100,000 people from 
Afghanistan after the American withdrawal. Qatar was uniquely 
positioned because of its ability to speak to various parties on the 
ground and its willingness to escort people through Taliban-controlled 
Kabul.
  Qataris helped to vet individuals seeking to leave the country and 
organized aspects of their departure. Many of the flights that enabled 
people to flee were on Qatari airlines. In addition, a large percentage 
of the new refugees were brought to Qatar, which arranged housing and 
other shelter for them as well as food, medicine and other provisions. 
At one point, the Qatari military was proving over 50,000 meals per day 
to the newly arrived refugees. There are still thousands of Afghan 
refugees in Qatar, where they continue to receive much needed care and 
assistance.
  On September 7, 2021, only weeks after the American withdrawal from 
Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III and Secretary of 
State Antony Blinken flew to Doha to acknowledge the transit and care 
of the evacuees from Afghanistan and to thank Qatar for its vital 
assistance.
  Secretary Blinken complimented Qatar's efforts in the evacuation: ``. 
. . you've facilitated the safe transit of more than 55,000 people. 
That's nearly half of those who were evacuated in the entire evacuation 
from Kabul. These are massive numbers. And as I've said a number of 
times, we spend a lot of time back in Washington talking about numbers: 
the total number of evacuees, American citizens, and so forth. But you 
know better than anyone that behind each of these numbers is a real 
person, is a mother, a father, a sister, a brother, a son, a 
daughter.''
  Qatar's role did not end with the evacuation. Since the United States 
does not recognize the Taliban dominated government in Afghanistan, all 
American interests in Afghanistan are now being handled by the Qatari 
Embassy and other offices in Kabul.
  While the military and diplomatic cooperation that has developed over 
the years is impressive and vital to the security interests of both 
nations, there are so many other areas in which the relations between 
our two nations have flourished over the course of the past fifty 
years.
  The United States and Qatar have extensive economic ties. As Qatar's 
largest foreign direct investor and its single largest source of 
imports, the United States has developed a robust trade relationship 
with Qatar, with over 120 U.S. companies operating in country. U.S. 
exports to Qatar increased by 47.7 percent from 2018 to 2019, totaling 
$6.5 billion in 2019.
  The United States is a leading equipment supplier and partner for 
Qatar's oil and gas industry, and U.S. companies have played a 
significant role in the development of the oil and gas sector. In 
addition to energy, U.S. companies also export to Qatar's defense, 
aviation, ICT, healthcare, food, and engineering/construction sectors.
  U.S. imports from Qatar include liquefied natural gas, aluminum, 
fertilizers, and sulfur. The United States and Qatar signed a trade and 
investment framework agreement and participate in annual bilateral 
Strategic Dialogues.
  Qatar announced plans to invest $45 billion in the United States, 
which will result in an additional 50,000 American jobs.
  But Qatar's financial dealings in the United States go well beyond 
investments and the import-export of goods and services. Qatar is 
extremely philanthropic. Qatar donated $100 million in aid to New 
Orleans after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast in August 2005. 
After Hurricane Harvey hit the state of Texas from August to September 
2017, Qatar's donated $30 million in aid to help rebuild Texas. Qatar 
and Qatari foundations have also made significant donations to worthy 
causes as autism, both research and care for individuals.
  Qatar provides education for all of its citizens, and a majority of 
its college graduates are now women.
  Major education ties have been developed over the course of the 
fifty-year relationship. Annually, hundreds of Qatari students study in 
the United States. In addition, six U.S. universities have branch 
campuses in Qatar's Education City complex. There are Virginia 
Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUQ), Weill 
Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q), Texas A&M University at 
Qatar (TAMUQ), Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), Georgetown 
University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Qatar), and 
Northwestern University.

[[Page E509]]

  In sum, over the course of the fifty-year relationship, the United 
States and Qatar have developed military and strategic ties, cooperated 
on major diplomatic initiatives, enlarged financial and economic 
relations, supported worthy causes and educational advancement for 
students in both countries.
  Significantly, although our two nations located in different regions 
of the world, with different histories and cultures, they have been 
able to forge an enduring friendship based on many shared values. This 
will set the stage for the next fifty years and beyond.

                          ____________________