Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will go to Washington on Jan. 31, Reuters reported in the present day, citing two sources acquainted with the matter.
The emir’s conferences with high US officers are prone to cowl a spread of points, together with ongoing worldwide negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program and talks with the Taliban over its governance in Afghanistan.
US officers are additionally anticipated to debate the Biden administration’s efforts to induce energy-producing international locations to assist provide Europe with pure fuel and crude oil ought to Russia invade Ukraine.
The administration revealed the discussions with governments and companies within the Center East, North Africa and Asia throughout a phone briefing with reporters on Tuesday morning.
American officers count on their efforts to “guarantee various provides cowl a major majority of [Europe’s] potential shortfall” in case “Russia decides to weaponize its provide of pure fuel or crude oil” to dissuade European financial penalties in opposition to Moscow, an official informed reporters in the present day.
The official, who spoke on the situation of anonymity, declined to say which international locations the US was approaching with the proposal.
Qatar has additionally performed a lead role in Afghanistan diplomacy, standing in for the US, which doesn’t have diplomatic relations with the Taliban government.
US officers have praised Qatar’s help for last-minute military evacuations of tens of 1000’s of Afghan civilians from Kabul International Airport amid the US and NATO withdrawal final August.
Qatar and Turkey are reportedly as soon as once more in talks with the Taliban about offering personnel to run the airport.
Reuters final week cited Turkish sources as saying the 2 international locations had reached a preliminary settlement to offer safety on the airport, which serves as Afghanistan’s foremost gateway to desperately wanted worldwide humanitarian assist.
