Qatar's Emir Calls for 'Collective Security System' in the Gulf

United Nations – Agencies: The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, called for resolving the current regional crisis through diplomatic means, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz to navigation and returning to negotiations to achieve a permanent solution that ensures security and stability for the entire region, including Iran. In his address at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Sheikh Tamim stated that the Gulf region is undergoing one of its most dangerous phases, noting that the current crisis was not a surprise but the result of years of postponement, managing crises with temporary fixes, and pursuing unrealistic policies. He added that Qatar believes dialogue and negotiation are the only ways to reach fair solutions based on international law, respect for state sovereignty, and the rights of peoples. He emphasized that Qatar has continued to play its role as a trusted mediator and facilitator for peace, warning that time alone does not resolve outstanding disputes without a just settlement; rather, it increases their cost.

The Emir of Qatar pointed out that the core of the dangerous situation in the region lies in the absence of a regional collective security system that respects the sovereignty, integrity, and territorial unity of states, encourages peaceful conflict resolution, and refrains from interfering in the internal affairs of countries. He renewed his call for establishing such a system, stating that recent events have proven its urgent necessity, given the potential for war driven by considerations unrelated to the interests of regional states, dragging neighboring countries into conflicts that are not theirs, targeting their vital assets and infrastructure, and closing an international waterway through which about a quarter of the world’s energy trade passes. He added that turning the arteries of the global economy into leverage and bargaining chips causes ordinary people across continents to pay the price, noting that the crisis has driven up food and medicine prices and affected the livelihoods of populations unrelated to the conflict.

On the Palestinian issue, the Emir of Qatar said that one cannot speak of a just international order as long as Palestine remains a “blind spot” within it. He affirmed that what occurred in Gaza constitutes genocide and criticized the level of international response to halt the ongoing catastrophe. He noted that Israeli leaders have openly stated that the most suitable solution is the displacement of the population, and he condemned what he described as attempts to explain away global rejection of Israeli practices by accusing critics of antisemitism and promoting conspiracy theories. He stated that dealing with Israel and curbing its behavior represent the true test of the international community’s seriousness in upholding the values of the rule of law.

For his part, Jordanian King Abdullah II, in his address to the UN General Assembly, warned that the expansionist ambitions of the Israeli government have become a regional threat. On the Palestinian file, King Abdullah II said the current Israeli government continues to ignore the agreement reached regarding Gaza, and that Israel’s attempts to divert attention from the reality of the conflict in Palestinian territories are no longer effective. He considered the settlers’ attacks on Palestinians as part of a policy aimed at their expulsion. He affirmed that accountability begins by calling things by their proper names, including attempts to erase the Palestinian presence. The Jordanian monarch also addressed the repercussions of the war on Iran, stating that it demonstrated how quickly the effects of the conflict can spread beyond the region, particularly regarding energy and food supplies, and warned that continuing conflicts lead to their escalation.