The first strategic dialogue held by the governments of the State of Qatar and the United States of America in Washington, DC, on January 30 has revealed increased the convergence in the strategic visions between the two countries and stressed need to remain close allies and friends both at the level of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The strategic dialogue aimed at enhancing the strengthening bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the United States, and highlighted the common beneficial opportunities for the peoples of the two countries.

The governments of the State of Qatar and the United States held the inaugural Strategic Dialogue in Washington D.C. on January 30th, 2018. U.S. Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson and U.S. Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis co-chaired the opening session jointly with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Khalid al-Attiyah and Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. U.S. Secretary of Energy James R. Perry and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross Jr. participated in sessions with Qatari Minister of Energy and Industry Mohammed al-Sada and Qatari Minister of Economy and Commerce Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani, respectively. U.S. Secretary of Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin and Qatari Minister of Finance Ali Sharif al-Emadi co-chaired the closing ceremony.

The US Chamber of Commerce hosted high-ranking Qatari and US officials participating in the strategic dialogue between the two countries, held in Washington DC. The ceremony was attended by HE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, HE Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani, HE Minister of Energy and Industry Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada. From the US side, the event was attended by HE US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, HE President of the US-Qatar Business Council Ambassador Anne Patterson and President and CEO of the US chamber of Commerce Mr. Tom Donohue. Addressing the ceremony, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Qatari-US relationship, noting that holding the strategic dialogue between the two countries for the first time indicates the depth of bilateral relations.

The State of Qatar announced Friday that Qatari-U.S. strategic dialogue will begin on Tuesday, January 30, in the U.S. capital Washington D.C. A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs representing the State of Qatar will be participating in the dialogue led by HE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, the Ministry of Defense led by HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, the Ministry of Energy and industry led by HE Minister of Energy and Industry, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce led by HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce and the Ministry of Finance represented by HE the Minister of Finance.

HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi said the State of Qatar is proposing to hold a global conference on preventive diplomacy and is ready to host it out of its belief in the importance of the firm role that preventive diplomacy plays as a main pillar in the vision of the U.N. Secretary General and Doha's sense of responsibility to support his efforts and the success of his initiatives to achieve peace.

The State of Qatar declared that the allegations made by the General Authority of Civil Aviation of the United Arab Emirates regarding the interception of UAE civil aircrafts by Qatari fighter jets are totally baseless. In a statement issued on Monday, HE Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Lolwah AlKhater said this allegation comes one day after a C-130 UAE military aircraft breached Qatari airspace at 3:10 pm (Doha local time), a violation for which the State of Qatar intends to take legal action.

The State of Qatar announced that it has been closely monitoring the situation on the video, that appeared in some media outlets, in which Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al-Thani appears to be speaking of his detention. HE Spokesperson of Qatar's Foreign Ministry Lulua Al Khater said in remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the State of Qatar is closely monitoring the situation, but due to the total severance of ties with the UAE it is difficult to clearly establish the circumstances surrounding the situation. Despite that, the State of Qatar principally stands with the protection of rights for every individual and affirms the entitlement of his family to pursue all legal means for the protection of his rights.

HE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani confirmed that the investigations concerning the hacking of Qatar News Agency website on May 23 last year proved the involvement of two siege countries and the State of Qatar will take legal action against them. In an interview with Al Hakika show on Qatar Television on Wednesday night, HE the deputy prime minister and foreign minister said that the State of Qatar does not rely on leaks or news stories that do not bear evidence about the state that committed the crime of hacking and the investigation proved that the two states were involved in the crime.

The State of Qatar has affirmed its total rejection of the decision of Israel's ruling Likud party to impose Israeli law on settlements in the West Bank and the occupied Jerusalem and their annexation to Israel. In a statement today, the Foreign Ministry said that the decision constituted a serious violation of the rights of the Palestinian people.

The State of Qatar has reiterated that the unjust siege that it has been subjected to violates the international law and U.N. Charter, stressing that these unilateral illegal measures have nothing to do with reality and lack evidence and justification. HE Ambassador Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, the State of Qatar's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks before the open debate of the Security Council on "Addressing complex contemporary challenges to international peace and security" at the U.N. headquarters in New York.