US to make Qatar major non-NATO ally

President Joe Biden indicated plans to nominate Qatar as a “major non-NATO ally” of the United States during a meeting with Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Reuters reports.

Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said this designation will change the way the United States and its military interact with Doha.

“I am notifying Congress that I will designate Qatar as a major non-NATO ally to reflect the importance of our relationship,” Biden said. “I think it’s long overdue.”

During the meeting, the president Biden also reassured European nations that they will not suffer natural gas shortages if a war between Ukraine and Russia breaks out in the weeks ahead, report adds.

The president also praised the relationship between Qatar and the US over the past half-century on issues like Afghanistan and the fight against the Daesh. Qatar has been instrumental in the evacuation of foreign nationals and Afghan refugees from Afghanistan since the withdrawal of US forces in August last year.

The US sees Qatar as the biggest energy supplier to Europe should a war break out between Russia and Ukraine.

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