Foreign relations of Qatar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Qatar
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Qatar

Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Prime Minister Abdullah bin Khalifah Al Thani Consultative Assembly Baladiyah Foreign relations Elections: 2007
Other countries • Politics Portal view • talk • edit

Qatar achieved full independence in an atmosphere of cooperation with the U.K. and friendship with neighboring states. Most Arab states, the UK, and the U.S. were among the first countries to recognize Qatar, and the state promptly gained admittance to the United Nations and the Arab League. Qatar established diplomatic relations with the U.S.S.R. and People's Republic of China in 1988. It was an early member of OPEC and a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

In September 1992 tensions arose with Saudi Arabia when a Qatari border post was allegedly attacked by Saudi forces resulting in two deaths. Relations have since improved and a joint commission has been set up to demarcate the border as agreed between the two governments.

The territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands and the maritime boundary dispute with Bahrain were solved by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. In the 2001 decision, Bahrain kept the Hawar Islands and Qit'at Jaradah but dropped claims to Janan Island and Zubarah on mainland Qatar, while Qatar retained significant maritime areas and their resources. The agreement has furthered the goal of definitively establishing the border with Saudi Arabia and Saudi-led mediation efforts continue.