WASHINGTON, DC — US President
Joe Biden will
build on attempts to ensure energy back-up for European allies when he hosts
Qatar’s emir Monday in a White House meeting overshadowed by fears Russia could
cut exports over the
Ukraine crisis.
اضافة اعلان
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will be the first
Gulf state leader to visit Biden since he became president just over a year ago
and the Oval Office talks will cement the tiny country’s status as a major
international player.
In addition to meeting Biden, the sheikh will meet
with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State
Antony Blinken, members
of Congress and other officials, the White House said. A deal between Qatar and
Boeing is also on the cards, with a signing ceremony scheduled at the White
House.
The most urgent agenda item for Biden is a scramble
by the US and the EU to ensure that European nations, already hit by soaring
energy prices, can weather disruption in Russian exports if Moscow decides to
cut supplies.
Western capitals
are threatening unprecedented economic sanctions if Russia attacks
Ukraine,
where it has placed more than 100,000 combat troops on the border.
However, there are fears that the oil- and
gas-producing giant could retaliate against the EU, which imports 40 percent of
its natural gas from Russia.
Announcing the visit, Press Secretary
Jen Psaki said
the emir and Biden would be discussing “the stability of global energy
supplies.”
Limits to Qatar’s role
Qatar is one of the world’s
biggest liquid natural gas (LNG) exporters, along with the US and Australia,
and there are hopes in Washington and Europe that Doha can temporarily redirect
exports destined for Asian markets.
However, Qatar has little to no extra capacity in
its LNG and there are limitations to how much supply can be diverted from
existing contracts.
Speaking just ahead of the visit, a senior US
official seemed to downplay the focus on how much to expect from Qatar in the
energy reshuffle, saying only “we’re consulting with all the leading gas
suppliers around the world.”
“I’m not going to be able to give you anything
further on LNG,” the official told reporters Sunday, speaking on condition of
anonymity. “It will figure in the mix, but I can’t give you any details.”
Qatar plays a key role in the region for the US as
host for the Pentagon’s Central Command.
During the
Afghanistan evacuation last year,
US forces sent about 60,000 Afghans and
Americans transiting through the Qatar air base.
Doha, serving as Washington’s diplomatic contact
with the Taliban, will be pivotal to any future contact with Afghanistan, as
well as playing a role in efforts to resurrect the Iran nuclear deal.
Separately to the Biden bilat, representatives of
Qatar and Qatar Airways were set to hold a signing ceremony with
Boeing Company
and
GE Aviation in the White House.
Commerce Secretary
Gina Raimondo was to preside over
the event, which follows Qatar Airways’ strong interest in becoming the launch
customer for Boeing’s new 777X freighter.
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