Qatar: Our Relationship with China Will Not Harm the United States

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani affirmed today, Friday, that his country balances its relationships with both the United States and China. The Prime Minister made these remarks during a lecture in Singapore in response to a question about Qatar's balancing act between the two global powers. He rejected another audience remark suggesting that increased Chinese defense sales to the Middle East could impact the region's security ties with the United States. He stated, "We welcome any cooperation with any country, but our relationships with any country will not be at the expense of another," adding that his country has a strong defensive alliance with the United States. The growing influence of China in the Gulf has raised concerns in the United States, a topic that emerged this week with Saudi Arabia and the UAE agreeing to join the BRICS group that includes China.