Over the years, Qatar and the United States of America have developed strong regional and international political relations marking a journey of nearly five decades since the start of their growing diplomatic ties.
The book, ‘Qatar-USA: A Half-Century Journey’ depicts the strong ties between the two countries over 50 decades. It is co-authored by a prominent Qatari academic, researcher and media personality, Dr. Khaled Al Jaber, who is also a former Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula newspaper; along with the former US Ambassador to Qatar, and the former President of the Qatar-US Business Council, H E Patrick Nicholas Thero.
The book, published in Washington DC, contains 10 chapters and about 232 pages and narrates, in the opening chapters, the early relations between Qatar and the United States, from the start of their formation during the period from 1934 to the launch of the diplomatic mission in Doha in 1972.
It gives a holistic review of the several areas of cooperation and partnership in the political, defense, economic, educational, cultural and humanitarian aspects between the two countries.
The book notes that after 1971, with the retreat of the British from the region, Qatar declared its independence, and although the following decade was one of the great turmoil in the region, it was also a time of great prosperity.
Due to stiff competition arising from Asia, the pearl-diving economy's incomes went downhill inside Qatar earlier in the century. The nation soon discovered a new source of wealth —oil— and after oil prices increased during the 1970s, the Gulf region gained immense prosperity and high incomes.
The book mentions that relations between Qatar and the United States continued to grow during the seventies and eighties. A few years later, the book notes, that the relationship became even more significant when Al Udeid Air Base was founded in Qatar, where more than 10,000 American soldiers are currently posted. Al Udeid later played a crucial role in the war against terrorism and is today the center of US operations in the Middle East.
Now, nearly fifty years after the beginning of diplomatic relations, the United States and Qatar are closer than ever; billions of dollars are mutually invested between the two countries each year, and an estimated 40,000 American nationals live and work in Qatar.
The book also explains that Qatar, from the beginning of the millennium, has quickly sought to advance its place on the international forum and develop its reputation as a modern country.
---
Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content.
Instagram - @qatarliving
Twitter - @qatarliving
Facebook - Qatar Living
YouTube - qatarlivingofficial
Cover image credit & source: Peninsula
More Articles
%20(1).png&w=1007&q=75)