Qatar PM Joins Saudi and European Ministers for Regional Security Talks

Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, participated in a ministerial meeting in Paris, France, on Tuesday, November 10. Representatives of Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom also took part in the talks, held on the sidelines of the G7 ministerial meeting. Qatar’s foreign ministry said participants discussed regional developments, diplomatic efforts and joint coordination aimed at reducing tensions and strengthening regional security and stability. The ministry said the discussions included “initiatives to ensure freedom of maritime navigation” and preparations toward a comprehensive agreement intended to achieve sustainable peace in the region. France’s foreign ministry had set out the wider G7 agenda in a statement published November 6 and updated November 9. Paris is hosting the foreign ministers on November 9–10 under France’s G7 presidency, for their second formal two-day meeting of the year after Vaux-de-Cernay in March. France listed Middle East stabilization and the diversification and security of energy supplies among the agenda items. Saudi Arabia was among the invited partner countries.