Qatar’s Emir Asks Putin to Help Resolve Hormuz Crisis

Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to help resolve the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz during talks in Moscow on October 27. The leaders met on the sidelines of the eighth Gas Exporting Countries Forum summit, with regional tensions and energy cooperation on their agenda. Tamim said Qatar was “very much counting on you” to help address the Hormuz situation and other crises in the region. He said tensions between the United States and Iran were having negative effects across the region, including on the strait and the energy sector. The emir linked his appeal to those regional consequences. Putin said Russia was prepared to do everything within its power to help resolve what he described as a difficult and acute problem. He said the Islamabad memorandum signed in June through Qatari and Pakistani mediation remained relevant as a basis for advancing negotiations. Putin also said Russia had advocated an end to hostilities and a political and diplomatic solution since the conflict around Iran began. The discussion also covered economic ties. Putin described Russia and Qatar as leading natural-gas producers and exporters whose coordination affected global energy-market stability. He cited Qatar Investment Authority stakes in Rosneft and VTB and developing cooperation with the Russian Direct Investment Fund. Tamim said Qatari investments in Russian companies were a source of pride and that bilateral economic and investment relations had developed over the preceding decade.