Once upon a time, in the vast and diverse continent of South America, there existed a country called Brazil. Known for its vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes, and passionate people, Brazil was a land of immense potential. However, its political landscape was often tumultuous and unpredictable.
In recent years, Brazil experienced a significant political shift with the rise and fall of Jair Bolsonaro, a controversial figure who polarized the nation. After his presidency, a new leader emerged - Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula narrowly defeated Bolsonaro in the last election, sparking renewed interest from countries around the world, including the distant land of Qatar.
Qatar, a small but prosperous nation in the Middle East, saw broad prospects for partnership and cooperation with Brazil. The State of Qatar had been building diplomatic relations with Brazil since 1974, and the visit of President Lula da Silva was expected to open a new chapter in their bilateral relations.
The two countries had exchanged diplomatic representation and held political consultations to discuss avenues of cooperation. During a previous visit to Doha in 2021, the leaders of Qatar and Brazil agreed to explore ways to increase economic partnership. They discussed cooperation in various sectors, including transport and logistics, defense products, science, technology, and innovation.
Qatar and Brazil had signed multiple agreements in the past, covering government cooperation, economic and technical cooperation, air transport, tourism, and cultural collaboration. The volume of intra-trade between the two nations had been steadily increasing, reflecting the strength of their economic relationship.
Qatar actively participated in economic activities in Brazil through exhibitions and forums, recognizing Brazil's status as the largest country in South America and a major agricultural and industrial force.
As Brazil underwent its political transformation under President Lula da Silva, the world watched with anticipation. The British, who had historically shown sporadic and inadequate attention to Brazil, wondered if they should take note of this shift. Meanwhile, the people of Brazil expressed their concerns about the country's largest economy and the challenges it faced.
President Lula da Silva, in response to rising crime in Rio de Janeiro state, signed a temporary decree to strengthen ports and airports with military security forces. This measure involved soldiers working alongside federal police officers at key locations, including the ports of Itaguai and Santos, as well as Rio's Galeão airport and Sao Paulo's Guarulhos airport.
The story of Brazil and Qatar's evolving relationship is one of hope, potential, and mutual cooperation. It is a tale of two nations coming together, recognizing each other's strengths, and forging a path towards a prosperous future.
In addition to its growing ties with Brazil, Qatar has been actively strengthening its relations with another country - Cuba. The visit of President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, to Qatar is expected to further enhance the ties between the two nations, particularly in the areas of economy, trade, and investment.
The Qatari-Cuban relationship is based on solid bonds of friendship, with diplomatic relations established in 1989. Qatar was the first Gulf state to open an embassy in Havana, and Cuba opened its embassy in Doha in 1994. The two countries have signed agreements and memorandums of understanding in various sectors, including health, tourism, and investments. Qatar Chamber and the Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment discussed ways to reinforce trade and economic ties between the two nations. The tourism sector in Cuba offers potential for shared projects, and Qatar has the opportunity to invest in areas such as hotels, agriculture, industry, oil, and civil aviation. The Qatari-Cuban cooperation relationship was highlighted by the inauguration of the Cuban Hospital in Qatar in 2012.
Qatar has also been promoting its relations with Latin American countries through the Global Public Diplomacy Network. The network launched a campaign to promote Qatari public diplomacy in Latin America, which received positive reactions in Cuban media circles. Cuba is undergoing economic recovery and is attracting foreign investments. Its critical natural resources include nickel, cobalt, iron ore, coffee, sugar, tobacco, copper, oil, and timber. Cuba's tourism industry attracts over 4 million tourists annually, and the country has a significant number of physicians who are deployed worldwide and generate profits of over $11 billion annually.
The evolving relationship between Brazil and Qatar and the strengthening ties between Qatar and Cuba demonstrate Qatar's commitment to expanding its global partnerships and exploring new avenues of cooperation. These developments open up opportunities for economic growth, cultural exchange, and mutual benefit for all involved parties.
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, praised his official meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel at the Lusail Palace in Doha. They discussed mutual opportunities to reinforce economic ties and the latest developments in Gaza. The meeting also recalled the close relationship between Fidel Castro and the Emir's Father. The Cuban president met with members of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce to discuss economic cooperation. Diaz-Canel arrived in Doha as part of his Middle East tour.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar have expressed their commitment to deepen and expand their bilateral cooperation in various areas. The crown prince of Saudi Arabia and a group of high-ranking officials visited Doha for the 44th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) supreme council meeting and the seventh gathering of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council. The leaders emphasized the importance of the council as a means of communication and coordination between the two countries. They discussed the need to strive for sustainable growth and development for both nations. Sheikh Tamim of Qatar congratulated Prince Mohammed for Saudi Arabia's successful bid to host the World Expo 2030 and its nomination to host the 2034 World Cup. The leaders expressed satisfaction with the agreements and memorandums of understanding signed during the subcommittee meetings of the Saudi-Qatari council.
The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) has played a crucial role in boosting Qatar's global ties by hosting several high-level delegations and top government officials from North America, Europe, and the Middle East throughout 2023. QBA chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani led a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets, Arun Venkataraman, to discuss investment and trade opportunities between Qatar and the US. The value of Qatar-US trade exchange stood at about $6.7bn in 2022, and in the first nine months of 2023, trade volume amounted to $5.55bn. Venkataraman emphasized potential cooperation opportunities in infrastructure, technology, and services sectors. QBA also hosted meetings with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lord Alderman Nicholas Lyons (Mayor of the City of London), Somalia's Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, US Republican Senator Roger Marshall, Egypt's Minister of Planning and Economic Development Dr Hala el-Saeed, and Finland's Minister of Development Co-operation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari. The meetings discussed investment opportunities, improving investment relations, and enhancing economic and trade ties between Qatar and the respective countries.
The United States and Qatar have embarked on their 6th annual strategic dialogue, reinforcing a partnership that spans over five decades. The dialogue aims to enhance historical and solid relations, promote economic partnerships, and address regional and global security challenges. Qatar hosts Al Udeid Air Base, a pivotal military installation supporting US and Coalition operations in the Middle East. Qatar is the third-largest customer of US defense systems globally. Qatar imported over $4.6 billion worth of American-made goods last year. Qatar has invested over $45 billion in the US economy, contributing significantly to job creation. The US-Qatar relationship extends to combating global challenges, including mediating the release of US citizens detained abroad. Education and cultural exchanges between the two countries strengthen people-to-people connections. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to promoting security, prosperity, and stability in the Gulf region and beyond.
The US-Qatar Business Council (USQBC) is committed to promoting investment opportunities and attracting foreign direct investments (FDI) in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. Sheikha Mayes al-Thani, managing director of USQBC in Qatar, stated that promoting trade and business opportunities beyond traditional sectors can help companies explore new avenues and sectors aligned with the vision’s goals, such as technology, innovation, renewable energy, and tourism. USQBC aims to foster investment flows by providing information, market insight, and networking platforms to facilitate the exchange of information between businesses from the US and Qatar. The Qatari government has been active in diversifying the economy and reducing its dependence on hydrocarbon revenues. Qatar's business environment is favorable for growth and investment due to its substantial oil and gas reserves, infrastructure projects in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, advantageous location for trade and transportation, and incentives and initiatives to attract foreign investment. The USQBC plays a vital role in fostering trade, investment, and collaboration between Qatar and the US by organizing networking events, conferences, seminars, webinars, and business forums. It assists in the identification of potential business partners or clients, showcases business opportunities, facilitates market entry, and provides market intelligence to its members. USQBC advocates policies and initiatives that enhance bilateral trade and investment in Qatar and the US, working closely with government entities and stakeholders to address barriers and promote a favorable business environment.
The United States and Qatar have seen a significant increase in trade exchange, with the volume reaching $6.47 billion in 2023. The U.S. is now Qatar's sixth-largest trading partner. Mohammed bin Hassan Al Malki, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar, discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the commercial, investment, and industrial sectors with a delegation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. They explored opportunities to support the private sector, boost innovation projects, and attract investments. The recent strategic dialogue between Qatar and the U.S. in Washington DC has further strengthened the long-term partnership between the two countries. Qatar's 3rd National Development Strategy aims to increase partnership and investment in sectors including manufacturing, logistics, IT, finance, agriculture, and healthcare. The U.S. ambassador to Qatar, Timmy Davis, expressed the U.S.'s desire to enhance cooperation and increase bilateral trade exchange, highlighting Qatar's ability to invest and establish partnerships in the region. Saudi Arabia and Brazil are also strengthening their trade ties and diversifying their economies through increased investment. Two-way trade between the countries totaled about $7 billion in 2023 and is expected to rise to $10 billion by 2030. Brazil plans to announce a new plant in Saudi Arabia to produce chicken locally, and planemaker Embraer has partnered with the kingdom to develop its aerospace industry. The Saudi-backed institute will host its first Latin America-focused investment conference in Rio de Janeiro, bringing together top executives from companies including Vale, JBS, and Nu Holdings. The relationship between the two countries is part of Saudi Arabia's economic transformation plan, Vision 2030, which aims to turn the country into a hub for various industries.
May 26 marked the 200th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Brazil and the United States. The US is holding extensive military exercises with Brazil and other South American countries as part of its efforts to assert control over the region's critical resources. The US is pressuring Brazil to sign a deal for the exploitation of the country's critical minerals. The celebrations of the bicentennial partnership between Brazil and the US were attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Laura Richardson. Richardson's trip aimed to deepen defense cooperation with Brazil. The celebrations were held aboard the nuclear aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is currently engaged in military operations in South America. The US is promoting commercial and military initiatives in the region as war measures against Iran, Russia, and China.