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Qatar Hosts Nations Hostile to US Interests at Defense Expo; Iran, Russia & Taliban Take Prominent Role
Edited by: Fern Sidman
Qatar’s recent defense exposition, the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX), has drawn attention and raised eyebrows as it provided a platform for countries with strained relations with the United States to showcase their military capabilities, as was reported on Friday on the Fox News web site. While Qatar maintains defensive and strategic partnerships with the U.S., its openness to hosting nations hostile to American interests has sparked concerns about arms proliferation and potential implications for regional stability.
Have any of the news media which have had the spokesman of #Qatar‘s Foreign Ministry on their programs asked him about these articles he has written? I haven’t heard a peep. It seems the only criticism these days is directed at #Israel.https://t.co/zYBbVh3kcr
— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) March 10, 2024
Iran’s presence at DIMDEX was not limited to a diplomatic delegation; the country went a step further by exhibiting an array of new weapons, including the Shahed-149 drone, first unveiled in 2021. This bold move has raised eyebrows and intensified worries about Iran’s role as a global arms supplier.
According to the information provided in the Fox News report, Matt McInnis, senior fellow for the Institute for the Study of War, acknowledged the gathering of “strange bedfellows” at such events, highlighting Qatar’s tendency to extend invitations to a wide range of countries.
The #HamasTerrorists killed & kidnapped Americans. They are responsible for the war in Gaza. Hamas’ leaders are living in luxury in #Qatar. Qatar funds Hamas. Qatar owns the #ParkLaneHotel. No American should stay at this hotel. #BoycottParkLaneHotel pic.twitter.com/7j84elZmNW
— ERIC RUBIN אריק 🟦 (@rubin_eric) March 3, 2024
“It’s not surprising that Qatar was inviting Iran, Russia, and other countries,” McInnis explained as he spoke with Fox News, shedding light on the eclectic mix of participants at the exposition. “So, this is, in many ways, typical for Qatar to be open to everyone.”
Despite the customary nature of Qatar’s inclusive approach, McInnis notes that it may fuel concerns among the U.S. and its allies regarding arms sales and the proliferation of advanced weaponry. The Fox News report pointed out that the presence of Iran and other adversaries at the DIMDEX raises red flags about Qatar’s role in facilitating arms transfers and its potential impact on regional dynamics.
“It certainly is going to reinforce concerns by the U.S. and other partners about the role that Qatar’s playing potentially in facilitating those arms sales and proliferation of more advanced weapons,” McInnis told Fox News. “I think this is something the U.S. was not pleased with, but at the same time, it’s somewhat par for the course for Qatar to be this type of host.”
🇶🇦 Listen in: @bhweingarten delivers an absolute masterclass — in less than 3 minutes — on all the ways in which #Qatar consistently double deals to the detriment of U.S. interests.
Full FDD Morning Brief w/ @JSchanzer: https://t.co/gK7VobaLvH. pic.twitter.com/kddh8uQP8o
— FDD (@FDD) March 7, 2024
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism and home to the largest ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East, is working to sell its weapons to the world,” warned the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), as was reported by Fox News. The group highlighted the potential risks associated with Iran’s weapons sales and urged the U.S. to “take action to restrict Iran’s access to future weapons expos.*
“Weapons produced in Iran don’t stay in Iran,” emphasized the FDD. “Washington must begin to deny Iran access to weapons expos.”
McInnis acknowledged the complexity of the situation, pointing out that the U.S. has a role in the current dynamic. The Fox News report said that he noted that the relationships Qatar maintains with groups such as Hamas and Iran are likely to face heightened scrutiny from the United States.
“The relationships that Qatar has with groups like Hamas, with Iran, and with others are going to come under a lot more scrutiny from the United States,” McInnis stated, according to the Fox News report, emphasizing the need for a closer examination of Qatar’s associations and potential implications for regional stability.
The FDD’s plea for Washington to restrict Iran’s access to future weapons expos underscores the urgency felt by some experts and organizations regarding the potential consequences of Iran’s expanding arms sales. The group’s call for decisive action reflects broader concerns about the role of state sponsors of terrorism in the global arms trade.
3 steps that could actually advance a hostage deal:
1. Threaten to designate #Qatar a State Sponsor of Terror, unless it puts real pressure on #Hamas
2. End fuel deliveries to Gaza, forcing Hamas commanders to emerge from their tunnels
3. Continue eliminating Hamas leaders…
— Asher Fredman אשר פרדמן (@fredman_a) March 8, 2024
In addition to Iran and Russia, the Taliban also had presence at the Doha defense expo. One expert noted the historical context of engaging with such groups, acknowledging shared responsibility between the U.S. and Israel for establishing conduits to these entities through Qatar.
“Some of this was part of our policy and Israeli policy, frankly, to have conduits to these groups through Qatar. So, we take some responsibility for this,” the expert stated, as was indicated by Fox News, highlighting the need for serious conversations between the U.S. and Qatar to address security concerns while maintaining their alliance.
The exhibition also coincided with a meeting between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, where both parties reaffirmed their commitment to bilateral security and defense cooperation. However, the Fox News report said that while the joint statement emphasized priorities such as concerns about Afghanistan and Ukraine, it notably omitted any mention of Iran.
What will it take for the West to reassess its ties with #Qatar? Funding/hosting #Hamas terrorists? Enabling #IRGC weapons proliferation? These Qatari policies pose a serious threat to the West. It’s time Western govts put security above $ interest. Lessons from Putin/#Russia … pic.twitter.com/eJhsXLQuLM
— Kasra Aarabi (کسری اعرابی) (@KasraAarabi) March 4, 2024
Despite the absence of explicit references to Iran, the statement emphasized a strong security partnership on counterterrorism, with commitments to deepen collaboration in areas such as aviation security and information sharing.
Despite the controversy surrounding DIMDEX and the implications for U.S.-Qatar relations, neither the U.S. State Department nor Qatari officials responded to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. The lack of official statements leaves unanswered questions about the nature of the discussions and potential measures to address security concerns.
