Qatar, which previously held the stigma of being labeled a 'state sponsor of terrorism', is receiving praise for successfully improving its image after being selected as one of the foreign destinations for U.S. President Donald Trump's first overseas trip in his second term. Following the hosting of major international sporting events, Qatar has gained the trust of President Trump by acting as a 'Middle East peace mediator.'
On the 14th (local time), President Trump officially visited Qatar, becoming the first U.S. president to do so. At a gathering after the official welcome ceremony in Qatar, President Trump referred to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, as a 'friend' and said, 'Now we can cooperate at the highest level.'
He also mentioned that Qatar is acting as a mediator in conflicts such as the Gaza Strip war and the Ukraine war, stating, 'We will bring peace not only to this region but also elsewhere. I know that Qatar is very actively engaged in helping us in other areas, including Russia-Ukraine.'
In fact, during President Trump's first term, relations between Qatar and the United States were not good. President Trump publicly criticized Qatar in 2017, stating that 'Qatar supports terrorism at a high level.' At that time, Qatar had cut diplomatic ties with neighboring countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain due to support for terrorist groups.
Since then, Qatar has spent massive 'oil money' to shed its label as a 'state sponsor of terrorism.' According to The New York Times (NYT), Qatar has spent millions of dollars on lobbyists in various countries, including Washington, to improve its reputation. Current U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is among those in Washington who received funding from Qatari government lobbyists in the past.
In particular, major sporting events have played a significant role in improving Qatar's image. The hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup served as a turning point. NYT reported, 'Qatar's success in securing the World Cup was the result of relying on cash, the most powerful weapon of a small country,' adding, 'Qatar overwhelmed competitors including the United States by pouring vast sums of money to persuade FIFA member countries and continues to invest in sports as a FIFA sponsor.'
Since the World Cup, Qatar has been mediating communication between the Palestinian armed group Hamas and Israel. NYT explained that Qatar has begun to play a mediating role in the Gaza Strip conflict by allowing high-ranking Hamas officials to reside in the country. Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, also noted during this visit that Qatar has utilized its influence over Hamas to advance the stalemate following the outbreak of the Gaza Strip war.
There are evaluations that Qatar's years of efforts to improve relations with the United States are bearing fruit. Qatar invested $8 billion in the development of the Al Udeid Air Base within its territory to support it in becoming the largest overseas base for the U.S. Air Force. Following the Trump administration's rise to power, it agreed to collaborate on real estate projects with the 'Trump Organization,' headed by President Trump's family.
Recently, Qatar announced that it would gift a plane to President Trump, who has expressed dissatisfaction with delays in the production of Air Force One. Qatar has stated it would gift a Boeing 747-8 aircraft, formerly owned by the royal family, to the U.S. Department of Defense, which manages Air Force One, and the White House plans to have the aircraft modified to meet various security standards with U.S. defense contractors. President Trump remarked, 'Only a fool would reject such an offer.'
Simon Henderson, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, stated, 'What Qatar is trying to do now is boast a bit about being able to say to the international community, 'Yes, we are back' while being pleased that Trump is visiting.' NYT assessed, 'President Trump's visit to Qatar is expected to bring a dramatic reversal for the small country on the Persian Gulf that he condemned eight years ago as a 'very high-level state sponsor of terrorism.'