Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

July 25, 2008 4:15:57 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Qatar Navigates Persian Gulf Minefield

Posted Mar 5, 08 7:00 PM CST in World 

(Newser) – The challenges of being Qatar, a peninsular nation bordering Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf, could be a hint of the diplomatic discourse to come, Bloomberg reports. The emirate cannily attends to the demands of its Saudi and Iranian neighbors, and it hosts US military forces; it also has learned to use its natural-gas wealth to avoid favoring one side exclusively.

“Our ambition is to have prosperity for our people," the prime minister says. "We would like to be friendly with everyone.” That aim has had the country walking a fine line—backing terrorist group Hezbollah in its war with Israel and inviting Iran's president to a summit aren't exactly popular in Washington. "They have to be very careful," one analyst said.

Source Bloomberg

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, shakes hands with Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al Thani, right, during in a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Feb....   (Associated Press)
U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, holds a press conference in Amman, Jordan, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008. Bodman started a five-nation tour through the Middle East in Jordan followed by Saudi Arabia,...   (Associated Press)
Qatar.   (CIA World Factbook)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 3)

Tags

Iran  • Saudi Arabia  • Hezbollah  • Persian Gulf  • natural gas  • Qatar  • Al Jazeera  • Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim bin Jaber al-Thani


Loading...

Loading...

Today's Most Popular


Other World Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »