Qatar is famous for its prominent role as a mediator. This role extends not just regarding Hamas and Israel, or Iran and the US, but beyond, including mediation between Russia and Ukraine. For instance, Qatar brokered a deal for the return of Ukrainian children from Russia and also attempted to host a summit to broker an agreement that would bring an end to the war.
Qatar maintains that its mediation does not imply support for any side. A Qatari official maintained in October 2023 that “dialogue shouldn’t be confused with endorsement,” and that Qatar engages with “different groups because we believe that open channels of communication are the only way to build trust and resolve differences.” Similarly, Faisal al-Mudahka, the Editor-in-Chief of the pro-government daily newspaper Gulf Times, stated: “The key to Qatar’s success in international diplomacy and mediation is the fact that the country possesses — and demonstrates — the objectivity and impartiality required to ensure any successful mediation and conflict resolution framework. It is now generally accepted that Qatar does not take sides but facilitates dialogue between rival parties, leading to settlement of long-running feuds in different parts of the world.”
_Indeed, Qatar communicates with both sides. However, this stance doesn’t mean neutrality — rather hypocrisy. Despite its stated policy of calling for the end of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Qatar has involved itself with both sides in a manner that has enabled them to prolong the war. Recently, it was reported that Qatar will transfer arms to Ukraine. The German government approved a sale of arms to Qatar with an estimated cost of €100 million, mostly consisting of 12 RCH 155 self-propelled artillery systems. In exchange, Qatar handed Germany half of its fleet of 24 Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PzH 2000) tracked guns, which will be forwarded to Ukraine under the “ring exchange” program after maintenance.
The problematic side of involving itself in the conflict was apparent by Qatar’s need to deny this transfer. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Majid bin Mohammed al-Ansari, responded to the reports by stating that Qatar is “not participating in the militarization of the conflict in any way.”
This denial was also necessary because, at the same time, Qatar maintained strong ties with Russia. Frequent meetings between Russian officials and their Qatari counterparts occurred. These include expanding economic ties, as agreed in a meeting last July between Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
In the case of economic ties, there was another example involving Germany that illustrates how Qatar involved itself in the conflict. In August, it was reported that Qatar is the last remaining bidder for the seized German operations of Russia’s state-controlled oil company Rosneft PJSC. Moreover, this purchase was an example of how Qatar uses its facade of neutrality to take sides. This purchase wasn’t just an economic opportunity, since it gives Qatar even more influence in Europe’s energy sector.
According to one opinion, this was a way for Qatar to enable Russia to bypass the sanctions imposed on Moscow, allowing Russia to regain control over their assets. This Qatari favour to Moscow was most likely discussed in the last meeting between the leaders of the states. On July 4, 2024, Vladimir Putin had a meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, on the sidelines of the SCO summit. The fact that Putin thanked the Qatari emir symbolizes Qatar’s prominent status in this relationship.
The façade of neutrality was an instrument for Qatar to highlight its economic presence in the global community, at the expense of preserving its status as an ‘honest mediator’.
This approach is not the first time Qatar has done so. Qatar mediated a prisoner exchange deal between Iran and the US The deal was mediated by several countries that were previously known for fulfilling the role of mediator: Switzerland, Oman, and Qatar. Among them, Qatar was described as the main negotiator that really dealt with both sides and tried to find compromises. The profit to Doha’s economy was apparent from the start. Washington approved the release of six billion dollars of Iranian oil profits and their transfer through the Qatar Central Bank (QCB). It should be remembered that senior officials from the ruling family and government circles sit on the board of directors of the Qatari bank and profit from the execution of these transactions. This matter illustrated that Qatar’s activity in the region is not done only out of generosity.
Qatar promotes itself as an honest mediator that can speak with everyone. This is an instrument of soft power that buys Qatar an opportunity to project itself as a leading member for joint economic initiatives. For this, Qatar chooses to take both sides, when in fact it takes just its own side.
As part of the masquerade, Qatar tries to present itself as operating out of humanitarian goals. In fact, Qatar looks after just itself and its self-promotion. Its image as a neutral broker needs to be considered as propaganda, not reality.
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