There is division surrounding the Qatar narrative—not just between the political left and right, but within the conservative movement itself. Some see Qatar as a valuable strategic partner; others view it as a duplicitous actor, undermining American interests behind closed doors. As geopolitical tensions rise in the Middle East, the question becomes increasingly urgent: Is Qatar a friend or a foe?
The Case for Qatar as a Friend
From a strategic perspective, Qatar has long positioned itself as a key U.S. ally in the Gulf. It is home to Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in the region, and has supported numerous U.S. diplomatic and military initiatives. In recent months, Qatar has taken steps that signal cooperation with American interests. For example, Hamas leaders based in Doha have been ordered to hand over their personal weapons—a move reportedly coordinated by Qatari mediators as part of U.S.-led ceasefire negotiations.
Qatar’s role in these efforts is not new. It has often acted as an intermediary between adversarial faction in the region, including Hamas, the Taliban, and the United States. Whether this is principled or opportunistic remains up for debate, but it has often worked to America’s advantage in times of crisis.
Economically, Qatar has deepened its ties to the United States. In May, President Donald Trump signed an agreement, first brokered by the prior Biden administration, with Qatar to generate an economic exchange worth $1.2 trillion—including historic deals involving Boeing aircraft and GE Aerospace engines, deals totaling over $243 million. The Pentagon even accepted Qatar’s $400 million aircraft contribution as the next Air Force One, a sign of high trust placed in the Gulf State.
Qatar appears, on the surface, to be a reliable, wealthy, and engaged partner of the United States.
The Case for Qatar as a Foe
Despite its diplomatic and economic ties with the U.S., Qatar’s foreign policy often straddles both sides of the geopolitical divides—raising difficult questions about its long-term loyalty.
Qatar has provided sanctuary to members of the Muslim Brotherhood, hosted the Taliban leadership during U.S. negotiations, and maintains strong ties with Iran, one of America’s most consistent adversaries. It also plays an outsized role in shaping public opinion across the Arab world through Al Jazeera, a state-funded media outlet often criticized for promoting Islamist ideologies.
Most concerning to many is Qatar’s relationship with Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. According to internal Hamas files, Qatar has served as the group’s “main artery,” providing covert financial support that helped enable the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Critics argue that Qatar’s public-facing diplomacy cannot be separated from its long-term pattern of enabling groups hostile to U.S. interests.
In January, Qatar pledged $20 million to UNRWA, the United Nations agency under investigation for ties to Hamas—a move that raised concerns in both Washington and Tel Aviv.
Further evidence of Qatar’s ideological posture can be seen through the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), an organization based in Doha and widely seen as aligned with the Qatari government. After Iran’s missile strikes on Israel in June, IUMS published an article by Turkish scholar and politician Yasin Aktay, celebrating the attacks and proclaiming, “The Arab streets received the images of Iranian missiles striking Tel Aviv with overwhelming joy!” Another IUMS member posted on X, “Let there be more [Iranian strikes] and bless [those who carry them out].”
Moreover, Qatar has also been deepening economic and diplomatic ties with China. It recently launched a $10 billion investment fund focused on Chinese infrastructure, health care, and real estate. Qatar became the first Gulf state to secure a 10% stake in a major Chinese financial firm—China Asset Management Co.—signaling Beijing’s increasing openness to Gulf capital in exchange for influence. A currency swap agreement with China’s central bank further makes the case for Qatar’s eastward pivot.
These growing partnerships—especially with China—complicate Qatar’s image as a reliable U.S. ally. But perhaps the most alarming example of Qatar’s influence hits close to home: right here in Texas. A U.S. Department of Education investigation found that over $100 million in Qatari funding to Texas A&M went unreported—funding that was used to buy highly sensitive research. That money was funneled into the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), a research center specializing in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and nuclear proliferation—fields critical to national security.
Texas A&M attempted to justify the reporting lapse by claiming TEES is exempt from disclosure requirements. TEES spokesperson Lisa Akin explained via email that TEES is “not a university or college” and “does not act on behalf of Texas A&M University.” Yet under Texas law, TEES is explicitly defined as “a part of The Texas A&M University System under the management and control of the board of regents.”
Qatar has positioned itself as a valuable U.S. partner in diplomacy, defense, and commerce. But its undisclosed influence in sensitive corners of American academia, particularly in fields vital to our national security, raises the question: Is Qatar a friend or a foe?
The answer may not remain a question for long. As tensions rise in the Middle East, we will soon find out.