Qatar’s ruler appointed Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani as prime minister on Tuesday, drawing on a diplomat who has helped the Gulf Arab state assert its outsize political influence abroad.
(Bloomberg) —
Qatar’s ruler appointed Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani as prime minister on Tuesday, drawing on a diplomat who has helped the Gulf Arab state assert its outsize political influence abroad.
Sheikh Mohammed will continue to hold the role of foreign minister, a position he’s held since 2017, a statement from the royal court said. He replaced Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani as prime minister. No reason was immediately given for the change.
As foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed has played an important role in discussions between Qatar and European countries keen to secure supplies of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine jolted energy markets. Qatar is one of the world’s top LNG exporters.
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Energy policy in Gulf states tends to remain constant with changes in government.
Sheikh Mohammed became foreign minister during a deep diplomatic crisis. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt had abruptly cut trade and travel ties, accusing Doha of supporting hardline Islamist groups and stirring regional strife. Qatar has denied this.
Qatar and the boycotting nations largely restored ties in early 2021 but tensions linger. Qatar helped the US to evacuate its citizens and others from Afghanistan in 2021. US President Joe Biden designated Qatar a ‘major non-NATO ally” last year.
Sheikh Mohammed has also been chairman of the country’s sovereign wealth fund, Qatar Investment Authority, since Nov. 2018.
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