Qatar faces new strategic landscape after death of former Amir Sheikh Hamad
Tel Aviv, July 27
The death of Qatar's former Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani marks the loss of a key stabilising figure. For the country's ruling Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the challenges ahead differ significantly from those his father confronted.
While Sheikh Hamad governed amid booming gas production, soaring energy prices and the Arab Spring - the strategic landscape today is markedly "less forgiving," a report has stated.
Also known as Qatar's 'Father Amir', Sheikh Hamad passed away on July 12 at the age of 74.
"The passing of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani marks far more than the death of a former ruler. It signals the end of the generation that created modern Qatar and raises fundamental questions about the direction the emirate will take in the coming decade. When Sheikh Hamad assumed power in 1995, Qatar was a small Gulf state with limited regional influence despite sitting atop one of the world's largest reserves of natural gas," Sergio Restelli, an Italian political advisor, author and geopolitical expert, wrote in the 'Times of Israel'.
"During his eighteen years in power, he transformed the country into one of the wealthiest nations on earth, built the global LNG industry, created the Qatar Investment Authority, launched Al Jazeera, established Qatar as an indispensable diplomatic actor and positioned Doha at the centre of Middle Eastern geopolitics," he added.
Calling Sheikh Hamad's vision remarkable, the expert said Qatar chose to project influence through finance, energy, media, diplomacy and strategic partnerships instead of military competition with its larger neighbours. He added that the ambitious approach elevated a nation of just over 300,000 citizens to a position of global political relevance.
"Although Sheikh Hamad abdicated in favour of his son Sheikh Tamim in 2013, few observers doubted that he remained an influential figure behind the scenes. His counsel carried immense weight within the ruling family, and his stature provided continuity during periods of regional turbulence, including the 2017 Gulf blockade," Restelli mentioned.
According to the report, Sheikh Tamim has pursued a more restrained approach to governance than his father, shifting the focus from the bold ideological activism associated with the Arab Spring towards mediation, reconciliation and pragmatic diplomacy.
"Maintaining channels with groups such as Hamas has increasingly been justified through Qatar's role as an intermediary rather than as a political patron. That distinction may become even more pronounced," Restelli added.
Emphasising that Sheikh Tamim now faces a strategic choice, the report said, "He can preserve the foreign policy architecture built by his father largely unchanged, accepting the diplomatic friction that accompanies it, or he can gradually recalibrate Qatar's regional posture by reducing the political visibility of Islamist networks while strengthening relations with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Western partners."
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, it's impressive how a country of just 300,000 citizens could punch so far above its weight. Al Jazeera was a game-changer in media. But Sheikh Hamad's death does make you wonder if Qatar will soften its stance on supporting Islamist groups to align more with Saudi/UAE. Pragmatism often wins in the end.
The parallel with India's own energy security is striking. We import a significant amount of LNG from Qatar. Any shift in Qatar's foreign policy — especially closer ties with Saudi/UAE — could affect regional stability and our energy calculus. Sheikh Tamim has a tough act to follow, but his mediation role has been praised globally.
Interesting analysis. The "less forgiving" landscape is spot on. The 2017 blockade showed how quickly Qatar can be isolated. Sheikh Hamad's vision of using soft power (finance, media, diplomacy) was brilliant for its time. But with the energy transition looming and regional rivalries intensifying, Sheikh Tamim needs a recalibration.
One aspect that's often understated: Qatar's role as a mediator between the US and Taliban was facilitated by these very Islamist ties. That's a double-edged sword. India has legitimate concerns about any groups with anti-India agendas getting support from the Gulf. I hope Sheikh Tamim's pragmatism means a more balanced approach. 🙏
Sheikh Hamad was indeed a transformative figure. But let's not romanticize too much — his era also saw controversies around migrant worker conditions and the blockade's political fallout. Sheikh Tamim seems more cautious and that might be better for long
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.