US-Qatari Relations One Year On (2012) Between Opportunities for Strategic Cooperation and the Challenges of the Regional and International Environment

Abstract

This study seeks to shed light on the nature of Qatari-US relations after 2012, attempting to establish a theoretical framework that explains the strategic cooperation between the two countries across military, economic, and diplomatic spheres. These relations have frequently faced challenges imposed by the complex interactions within the regional and international environment, especially as Qatar pursues an active foreign policy characterized by combining contradictions—acting as a strategic ally of the US while supporting Iran and maintaining relationships with both Israel and Hamas. The research identifies that the relationship between the two parties is built on activating mechanisms of mutual dependence, which have transformed the foundations of disagreement into pillars that support rapprochement. This dynamic has paved the way for Qatar to strike a balance between strengthening its independence in the regional and international arena and maintaining its role as a strategic ally of the United States in the Middle East.