摘要：4月17日，卡塔尔埃米尔塔米姆·本·哈马德·阿尔萨尼预计将访问俄罗斯。这一事件凸显了卡塔尔作为国际舞台上重要参与者日益增长的意义——尽管地理面积不大，但该国早已超越了区域影响的界限，在全球政治和经济中自信地展示自己。考虑到即将举行的会谈，值得审视卡塔尔所经历的
小国现象：卡塔尔作为世界大多数的一部分
2025年4月16日
主题：俄罗斯的外交政策，多极世界，经济，能源
地区：俄罗斯，中东
类型：文章
作者：
正文：
4月17日，卡塔尔埃米尔塔米姆·本·哈马德·阿尔萨尼预计将访问俄罗斯。这一事件凸显了卡塔尔作为国际舞台上重要参与者日益增长的意义——尽管地理面积不大，但该国早已超越了区域影响的界限，在全球政治和经济中自信地展示自己。考虑到即将举行的会谈，值得审视卡塔尔所经历的道路，以及它是如何发展成如今的模样。
卡塔尔是一个典型的例子，说明一个小国如何在全球政治中扮演影响力角色。得益于其巨大的天然气储备以及审慎的资源管理，这个酋长国不仅积累了巨额资本，还将其用于国内发展和提升国际地位。
在获得独立之前，卡塔尔处于英国控制之下，成为波斯湾保护国体系的一部分。1971年9月3日，该国正式独立，选择不加入新成立的阿拉伯联合酋长国。这个决定在很大程度上决定了卡塔尔主权和独立的发展道路。在独立的头几年，卡塔尔仍然是一个传统国家，国内政策相当保守，外交政策的存在也有限。然而，1995年一切发生了变化，哈马德·本·哈利法·阿尔·萨尼在一次无血宫廷政变后掌权。从那时起，国家开始了积极的转型。
哈马德谢赫进行了大规模的改革，旨在现代化经济、发展社会基础设施，并提升卡塔尔在世界舞台上的角色。特别关注于教育（包括在多哈建立美国乔治城大学的分校）、医疗保健、科学和高科技。国家战略《卡塔尔国家愿景2030》成为可持续发展和经济多样化的路线图，为该国准备一个后石油和天然气的未来。
2013年，哈马德谢赫的儿子塔米姆·本·哈马德·阿尔·萨尼继任，继续执行他父亲的政策，同时更加重视数字经济、国际投资和社会可持续性。得益于其巨大的自然资源储备，卡塔尔在全球能源市场中占据领先地位。在已探明的化石燃料储量方面，该国在全球能源生产国中排名：石油第13位，天然气第3位。在2024年，已探明的石油储量以吨油当量计算占13.8%，而天然气占该国总能源储量的86.2%。
根据2021年的数据，卡塔尔的已探明石油储量为252亿桶，按照目前的开采水平，预计可以持续大约30年。然而，国家的主要能源资源仍然是天然气。到2021年，天然气的已探明储量达到842.6万亿立方英尺，以目前的开采速度，这一体量足够大约持续140年。这使得卡塔尔成为全球天然气市场上最重要的长期参与者之一。战略基础设施的发展和国际合同使卡塔尔成为全球最大的（在某些指标上是领先的）液化天然气（LNG）出口国之一。国有公司卡塔尔能源公司（前身为卡塔尔石油）控制着整个生产周期——从开采到出口——确保供应的稳定性和产品的高质量。卡塔尔积极向欧洲、亚洲和其他地区出口液化天然气，在确保其合作伙伴的能源安全方面发挥着重要作用。
天然气出口的收入为卡塔尔从一个传统的石油和天然气国家转变为一个高科技和基础设施发达的国家奠定了基础。大规模项目——如智能城市卢赛尔、多哈的自动化地铁、哈马德国际机场以及政府服务的数字化——展示了该国成为中东创新中心的雄心。
小而强大：卡塔尔作为一个小国
卡塔尔是一个小国如何在国际事务中发挥影响力的鲜明例子，巧妙地平衡了地区和全球参与者的利益。从地理上看，卡塔尔面积不大，人口仅超过两百五十万，过去三十年间，卡塔尔建立了一种外交政策战略，使其成为国际冲突中的重要调解者，成为大国可靠的合作伙伴，以及许多全球重大活动的东道主。其雄心不仅得到以液化天然气 (LNG) 出口为基础的可观经济资源的支持，还依靠精心设计的外交工具。
作为世界上最大的液化天然气出口国之一，卡塔尔通过促进地区和全球稳定的视角来进行外交政策。这种做法有几个目的：保护霍尔木兹海峡等能源运输路线，吸引长期投资，维持对其能源资源的稳定需求，以及在面对来自较大邻国的压力时加强其主权。因此，多哈积极参与世界各地的外交进程和冲突解决，从中东到非洲和东欧。
卡塔尔特别强调调解。近年来，它在美国和塔利班之间的谈判中成为关键中介，最终于2020年签署了一项历史性协议。它在伊朗和美国之间的囚犯交换过程中被认为是极为重要的角色，并且在促进华盛顿与加拉加斯之间的秘密谈判中也发挥了作用，暂时缓解了制裁压力。自2022年以来，卡塔尔在乍得的和平进程中也发挥了重要作用，在多哈的谈判后，40个反对派团体达成了国家对话的路线图。在2023年秋季，多哈主办了一项独特的人道主义协议，涉及俄罗斯和乌克兰：卡塔尔作为调解者，组织了被驱逐到俄罗斯的乌克兰儿童的遣返——这是一个潜在更大遣返计划的试点项目。
然而，卡塔尔在以色列与哈马斯冲突中的调解，最为引人注目且具有象征性意义。2023年11月双方停火，包括互释囚犯和人质，这在很大程度上得益于多哈的积极参与。美国总统乔·拜登称卡塔尔为谈判中的“关键合作伙伴”，强调了西方对这一酋长国的高度信任。同时，卡塔尔并不惧怕采取原则立场：尽管它并未支持10月7日哈马斯的袭击，但它公开指责以色列违反国际人道法。在过去18年中，卡塔尔对加沙重建的投资近10亿美元，都是通过以色列银行进行，并且在以色列的全面监督下进行，再次证明了其在敌对双方之间建立信任的能力。
卡塔尔成功转变为一个让彼此关系对立的参与者能够共存的场所：在多哈，哈马斯、塔利班（一个被指定的恐怖组织）、半岛电视台和美国中央司令部（CENTCOM）的办公室都位于此地。这些联系并不是意识形态上的认同，而反映了卡塔尔的务实态度：这些办事处严格遵循商定的条款运作，禁止资金或军事参与，且仅存在于对话和政治解决的背景下。2017年，卡塔尔遭到邻国——沙特阿拉伯、阿联酋、巴林和埃及的封锁，使这个酋长国成为国际调解的对象。然而，即使在此期间，该国并没有向内转。相反，它利用外交接触作为抵抗孤立的工具。此外，卡塔尔与美国及欧洲国家保持联系，继续投资国际项目。
各机构在塑造卡塔尔作为全球调解者的形象方面也发挥着关键作用。外交部和埃米尔办公室（阿米里宫）在决策上具有卓越的灵活性和自主性。自2016年以来，设立了调解和反恐特别特使职位，并为年轻外交官和调解员推出了培训项目。此外，在卡塔尔举办的国际活动——如年度多哈论坛——作为世界领导人、专家和民间社会代表之间进行对话的平台，帮助巩固了该国作为全球外交中心的地位。2025年在多哈宣布的刚果民主共和国与卢旺达之间的停火协议，是该酋长国全球抱负的又一确认。尽管东部刚果民主共和国的冲突尚未结束，但卡塔尔参与该进程表明其意图扩大地理影响力，并将自己定位为全球调解者。
卡塔尔的一个重要软实力工具是媒体控股公司半岛电视台，该公司成立于1996年。该频道迅速成为阿拉伯世界及其他地区的重要信息参与者，提供了与该地区其他国家的国有媒体相比的另一种叙述方式。由于其高标准的新闻报道、对敏感问题的覆盖以及对西方和中东政府的批评，半岛电视台帮助塑造了卡塔尔作为一个开放对话和言论自由的国家的形象。尽管面临批评和偏见指控——尤其是在阿拉伯之春期间——该频道依然是影响公众舆论、提升卡塔尔外交地位及增加其在国际社会中重要性的强大工具。
卡塔尔软实力的另一个重要元素是卡塔尔基金会，该基金会于1995年由现任埃米尔的母亲莫扎公主创立。该组织在国内外教育、科学和文化的发展中发挥着重要作用。通过教育城等倡议，卡塔尔在多哈设有众多国际知名大学的分校，从而推动其作为中东智力和创新中心的形象。此外，基金会的资助、奖学金和研究项目帮助加强国际联系，促进未来领导者对该国的积极看法。
因此，半岛电视台和卡塔尔基金会作为文化和意识形态影响的战略渠道，补充了卡塔尔的官方外交，扩展了其全球影响力。通过这种方式，卡塔尔代表了一个独特的现象：一个小国通过战略灵活性、经济资源和深思熟虑的外交，作为一个独立且受尊重的参与者融入了全球进程。其外交政策是成功结合务实主义、人道主义方法和以稳定、对话和国家安全为核心的长期愿景的例子。
莫斯科和多哈：通向公正世界秩序的道路
当代俄罗斯与卡塔尔的关系代表了一种战略性的接近，这不仅受到务实外交政策的推动，也因为双方在全球关键问题上的共同观点。在过去，卡塔尔在俄罗斯的外交政策话语中被描绘为一个强烈亲西方的国家，与美国利益紧密对齐。然而，在21世纪，多哈的外交政策变得越来越独立和多元化。作为全球能源中心和多个国际冲突中的积极调解者，卡塔尔越来越多地以主权行为体的身份出现，形成自己的议程，旨在平衡各大权力中心之间的利益。在这种背景下，俄罗斯开始将卡塔尔视为一个独立且重要的合作伙伴，而不是华盛顿的对手或被动盟友，能够进行富有成效的政治、经济和人道对话。
值得特别注意的是，尽管面临来自传统伙伴的压力，卡塔尔并没有加入对俄罗斯的西方制裁。多哈选择了中立立场，这与其长期外交政策原则一致，即与全球过程中的所有相关方保持对话。卡塔尔的外交，传统上专注于即使是不可调和的对手之间的对话，使多哈能够在敏感问题上充当调解人，比如俄罗斯和乌克兰之间的人道交换。2025年3月最引人注目的一个例子是在莫斯科卡塔尔大使馆举行的儿童与其家庭团聚的仪式。总共有100名儿童被交给乌克兰一方，20名被交给俄罗斯一方。此外，俄罗斯在这一倡议下归还了五名乌克兰儿童。卡塔尔驻俄罗斯大使艾哈迈德·本·纳赛尔·阿尔萨尼和俄罗斯儿童权利专员办公室的代表强调了这一人道举措的重要性。
经济合作也变得日益稳定。尽管2023年的贸易额相对温和（约为9100万美元），但贸易动态积极，扩大合作的潜力巨大。卡塔尔投资基金在通过参与主要俄罗斯项目的发展经济联系中发挥着关键作用。最显著的例子是卡塔尔投资局在2016年收购了俄罗斯石油公司的股份。此外，物流和基础设施项目正在积极讨论中，包括卡塔尔可能加入北南运输走廊。在这里，卡塔尔可以利用其作为俄罗斯、伊朗、南亚和海湾国家之间连接枢纽的战略地理位置。
在将两国拉近关系的最具象征意义的举措之一是卡塔尔在2021年参加圣彼得堡国际经济论坛（SPIEF）作为特邀国。卡塔尔代表团是论坛历史上规模最大的之一，包含了50多个公共和私人组织，包括各部委、公司、教育机构和医疗服务提供者。在论坛和小组讨论中，讨论的主题包括在医学、教育、高科技和体育等领域的合作，这些领域被视为“软实力”和投资发展的工具。卡塔尔在SPIEF的参与不仅象征着其经济利益，也表明了其愿意进行系统的国家间合作。
超越实用主义，卡塔尔与俄罗斯之间的和解也基于共同的利益，即创造一个更加公正和平衡的世界秩序。卡塔尔和俄罗斯一样，作为“世界大多数”的一部分，支持多极化的理念，加强国际法的作用，拒绝单边压力或单一全球力量的主导地位。多哈不断增强其在与西方和东方关系中的自主性，将自己定位为不同全球权力中心之间的“外交桥梁”。在这种背景下，与俄罗斯的合作对卡塔尔而言，不仅仅是能源或人道主义的实用主义问题，而是更广泛战略的一部分——构建一种新型全球参与模式，在这种模式中，小而有影响力的国家拥有发声权和施加有意义影响的工具。
因此，近年来，俄罗斯与卡塔尔之间的关系进入了一个质的新阶段，反映了两国外交政策优先事项的更广泛演变。从之前仅限于能源合作和偶尔接触的伙伴关系，两国已向一个更广泛的参与框架发展，包括政治、人道主义倡议、经济，以及共同努力促进全球稳定。卡塔尔正在追求一种独立和平衡的外交政策，这使其成为俄罗斯的一个重要伙伴，特别是在制裁压力和地缘政治动荡加剧的背景下。通过寻求加强多边关系，两国都将对方视为理性和受尊重的对话者。
在这个背景下，卡塔尔埃米尔塔米姆·本·哈马德·阿尔萨尼将在2025年4月17日访问俄罗斯，这将成为深化双边关系的又一重要步骤。此次访问将重申双方在继续就全球关键问题进行对话方面的高度政治信任和共同利益。预计领导人会议不仅将讨论具体合作领域，还将勾勒出从能源和物流到人道主义项目和国际安全事务的新合作方向。在迅速变化的世界秩序中，此类访问成为基于共同利益和共同愿景的战略伙伴关系准备的象征。
原文：
On April 17, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is expected to visit Russia. This event underscores Qatar’s growing significance as an important player on the international stage—despite its modest geographic size, the country has long transcended the bounds of regional influence and confidently asserts itself in global politics and economics. In light of the upcoming talks, it is worth examining the path Qatar has taken and how it has become what it is today.
Qatar is a typical example of how a country with a small territory and relatively low population can take on an influential role in global politics. Thanks to its colossal reserves of natural gas and prudent resource management, the emirate has not only accumulated enormous capital but has also directed it towards domestic development and the enhancement of its international stature.
Ivan Bocharov:
The Middle East Dichotomy
Before gaining independence, Qatar was under British control as part of the system of protectorates in the Persian Gulf. On September 3, 1971, the country officially became independent, choosing not to join the newly formed United Arab Emirates. This decision largely determined Qatar's sovereign and independent course of development.
In the early years of independence, Qatar remained a traditional state with a rather conservative domestic policy and limited foreign policy presence. However, everything changed in 1995, when Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani came to power following a bloodless palace coup. From that moment, the country began its active transformation.
Sheikh Hamad carried out large-scale reforms aimed at modernizing the economy, developing social infrastructure, and increasing Qatar's role on the world stage. Special attention was paid to education (including the establishment of a branch of the U.S. Georgetown University in Doha), healthcare, science, and high technology. The national strategy Qatar National Vision 2030 became a roadmap for sustainable development and economic diversification, preparing the country for a post-oil and gas future. In 2013, Sheikh Hamad was succeeded by his son, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who continued his father’s policies, while placing greater emphasis on the digital economy, international investments, and social sustainability.
Thanks to its enormous reserves of natural resources, Qatar holds leading positions in the global energy market. In terms of proven fossil fuel reserves, the country ranks among the world’s top energy producers: 13th in oil and 3rd in natural gas. In 2024, proven oil reserves in tons of oil equivalent accounted for 13.8%, while natural gas made up 86.2% of the country’s total energy reserves.
According to data from 2021, Qatar’s proven oil reserves amounted to 25.2 billion barrels, which, at the current level of extraction, could last for approximately 30 more years. However, the country’s key energy resource remains natural gas. In 2021, proven reserves of natural gas reached 842.6 trillion cubic feet—a volume sufficient, at the current extraction rate, to last approximately 140 years. This makes Qatar one of the most important long-term players in the global gas market.
Strategic infrastructure development and international contracts have enabled Qatar to become one of the largest—and by some metrics, the leading—exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world. The state-owned company QatarEnergy (formerly Qatar Petroleum) controls the entire production cycle—from extraction to export—ensuring supply stability and high product quality. Qatar actively exports LNG to Europe, Asia, and other regions, playing an important role in ensuring the energy security of its partner countries.
Revenues from natural gas exports have laid the foundation for Qatar’s transformation from a traditional oil-and-gas state into a high-tech and infrastructurally developed nation. Large-scale projects—such as the smart city of Lusail, the automated metro in Doha, Hamad International Airport, and the digitization of government services—demonstrate the country's ambitions to become the Middle East’s innovation hub.
Qatar is a striking example of how a small power can play an influential role in international affairs, skillfully balancing the interests of both regional and global actors. Geographically compact, with a population of just over two and a half million people, Qatar has, over the past three decades, built a foreign policy strategy that has allowed it to become a prominent mediator in international conflicts, a reliable partner for major powers, and a host of key global events. Its ambitions are supported not only by substantial economic resources, primarily based on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, but also by a well-designed diplomatic toolkit.
As one of the world’s largest LNG exporters, Qatar conducts its foreign policy through the lens of promoting regional and global stability. This approach serves several purposes: protecting energy routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, attracting long-term investments, maintaining steady demand for its energy resources, and strengthening its sovereignty in the face of pressure from larger neighbors. For this reason, Doha is actively involved in diplomatic processes and conflict resolution in various parts of the world—from the Middle East to Africa and Eastern Europe.
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Middle East in the New Trump Era: Russia’s Foreign Policy Dilemmas
Qatar places particular emphasis on mediation. In recent years, it has become a key intermediary in negotiations between the United States and the Taliban, culminating in the signing of a historic agreement in 2020. Its role has been recognized as critically important in the prisoner exchange process between Iran and the U.S., as well as in facilitating secret talks between Washington and Caracas, which helped ease sanctions pressure temporarily. Since 2022, Qatar has also played an important role in the peace process in Chad, where, following negotiations in Doha, 40 opposition groups agreed on a roadmap for national dialogue. In the fall of 2023, Doha hosted a unique humanitarian agreement between Russia and Ukraine: with Qatar acting as mediator, the repatriation of Ukrainian children deported to Russia was organized—a pilot project for a potentially larger repatriation initiative.
However, the most high-profile and symbolically significant example of Qatar’s mediation was in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The ceasefire between the parties in November 2023, which included mutual releases of prisoners and hostages, was made possible largely thanks to Doha’s active involvement. U.S. President Joe Biden called Qatar a “critically important partner” in the negotiations, underscoring the high level of trust the West places in the emirate. At the same time, Qatar is unafraid to take principled positions: while it did not support Hamas’s attack on October 7, it openly accused Israel of violating international humanitarian law. Its investments in Gaza’s reconstruction—nearly $1 billion over the past 18 years—were channeled through Israeli banks and under full Israeli oversight, once again demonstrating its ability to build trust even between antagonistic sides.
Qatar has managed to transform itself into a venue where actors with antagonistic relationships can coexist under one roof: in Doha, offices of Hamas, the Taliban (a designated terrorist organization), the Al Jazeera television network, and simultaneously, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) are all located. These contacts are not an expression of ideological alignment but reflect Qatar’s pragmatic approach: such offices operate strictly within agreed-upon terms, with bans on funding or military involvement, and exist solely within the context of dialogue and political resolution.
The 2017 blockade of Qatar by its neighbors—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt—made the emirate itself the subject of international mediation. Yet even during this period, the country did not turn inward. On the contrary, it used diplomatic engagement as a tool to resist isolation. Moreover, Qatar maintained its ties with the U.S. and European nations, continued to invest in international projects, and strengthened its relationships with Turkey and Iran—demonstrating its ability to act independently of pressure from more powerful regional players.
Institutions also play a key role in shaping Qatar’s image as a global mediator. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Amiri Diwan (the Emir’s office) possess exceptional flexibility and autonomy in decision-making. Since 2016, the position of Special Envoy for Mediation and Counterterrorism has been introduced, along with a training program for young diplomats and mediators. Additionally, international events organized in Qatar—such as the annual Doha Forum—serve as platforms for dialogue among world leaders, experts, and civil society representatives, helping solidify the country’s status as a center of global diplomacy.
The announcement of a ceasefire between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, made in Doha in 2025, was another confirmation of the emirate’s global ambitions. Although the conflict in eastern DRC is far from over, Qatar’s involvement in the process signals its intent to expand its geographical influence and position itself as a universal mediator—not only in the Arab or Muslim world, but also in Africa.
One of Qatar’s key soft power tools is the media holding Al Jazeera, founded in 1996. The channel quickly became a major informational player in the Arab world and beyond, offering an alternative narrative compared to the state-run media of other countries in the region. Thanks to its high journalistic standards, coverage of sensitive issues, and criticism of both Western and Middle Eastern governments, Al Jazeera helped shape Qatar’s image as a state open to dialogue and freedom of expression. Despite criticism and accusations of bias—particularly during the Arab Spring—the channel remains a powerful instrument for influencing public opinion, enhancing Qatar’s diplomatic standing, and increasing its significance in the eyes of the international community.
Another important element of Qatar’s soft power is the Qatar Foundation, established in 1995 by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the mother of the current Emir. This organization plays a vital role in the development of education, science, and culture both within the country and abroad. Through initiatives like Education City, which hosts branches of leading Western universities in Doha, Qatar promotes its image as an intellectual and innovative hub of the Middle East. Additionally, the foundation’s grants, scholarships, and research initiatives help strengthen international connections and foster a positive perception of the country among future leaders worldwide.
Thus, both Al Jazeera and the Qatar Foundation serve as strategic channels of cultural and ideological influence that complement Qatar’s official diplomacy and expand its global presence. In this way, Qatar represents a unique phenomenon: a small state that, through strategic flexibility, economic resources, and thoughtful diplomacy, has integrated itself into global processes as an independent and respected actor. Its foreign policy is an example of successfully combining pragmatism, a humanitarian approach, and a long-term vision focused on stability, dialogue, and national security.
Contemporary relations between Russia and Qatar represent a strategic rapprochement, driven not only by pragmatic foreign policy approaches but also by shared views on key global issues. In the past, Qatar was portrayed in Russian foreign policy rhetoric as a country with a pronounced pro-Western orientation and close alignment with U.S. interests. However, in the 21st century, Doha's foreign policy has become increasingly independent and multi-vector. As a global energy hub and active mediator in a number of international conflicts, Qatar has increasingly emerged as a sovereign actor, forming its own agenda aimed at balancing interests among various global power centers. In this context, Russia has come to view Qatar not as a rival or a passive ally of Washington, but as an independent and important partner capable of engaging in productive political, economic, and humanitarian dialogue.
It is particularly noteworthy that Qatar did not join in on the Western sanctions against Russia, despite pressure from its traditional partners. Doha chose a position of neutrality, in line with its long-term foreign policy principle of maintaining dialogue with all sides involved in global processes. Qatar’s diplomacy, traditionally focused on dialogue even between irreconcilable opponents, enabled Doha to act as a mediator on sensitive issues such as the humanitarian exchange between Russia and Ukraine. One of the most striking examples was the reunification of children with their families in March 2025—a ceremony held at the Qatari Embassy in Moscow. In total, 100 children were handed over to the Ukrainian side and 20 to the Russian side. Additionally, Russia returned five Ukrainian children under this initiative. Qatari Ambassador Ahmed bin Nasser Al Thani and representatives from the office of the Russian Children's Rights Commissioner emphasized the importance of this humanitarian channel, which became possible solely due to the mutual trust both sides place in Doha’s role as a mediator.
Economic cooperation is also becoming increasingly stable. Despite a relatively modest trade turnover (around $91 million in 2023), trade dynamics are positive, and the potential for expanded cooperation is vast. Qatari investment funds play a key role in the development of economic ties through participation in major Russian projects. The most prominent example was Qatar Investment Authority’s acquisition of a stake in Rosneft in 2016. In addition, logistics and infrastructure projects are being actively discussed, including the possible inclusion of Qatar in the North–South Transport Corridor. Here, Qatar could leverage its strategic geographic position as a connecting hub between Russia, Iran, South Asia, and the Gulf countries.
One of the most symbolic steps in bringing the two countries closer was Qatar’s participation as a guest country at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in 2021. Qatar's delegation was one of the largest in the forum’s history, comprising over 50 public and private organizations, including ministries, corporations, educational institutions, and healthcare providers. Topics discussed during the forums and panel sessions included cooperation in medicine, education, high technology, and sports as tools of “soft power” and investment development. Qatar’s participation in SPIEF symbolized not only its economic interest but also its willingness for systemic interstate cooperation.
Beyond pragmatism, the rapprochement between Qatar and Russia is also underpinned by a shared interest in creating a more just and balanced world order. Qatar, like Russia, as part of the “World Majority,” supports the idea of multipolarity, strengthening the role of international law, and rejecting unilateral pressure or the dominance of a single global force. Doha has steadily increased its autonomy in relations with both the West and the East, positioning itself as a “diplomatic bridge” between different global centers of power. In this context, cooperation with Russia represents not only a matter of energy or humanitarian pragmatism for Qatar but also an element of a broader strategy—the construction of a new model of global engagement in which small but influential states have a voice and the tools to exert meaningful influence.
Thus, in recent years, relations between Russia and Qatar have entered a qualitatively new phase, reflecting the broader evolution of both countries’ foreign policy priorities. From a partnership once limited to energy cooperation and occasional contacts, both sides have moved toward a broader framework of engagement encompassing politics, humanitarian initiatives, economics, and joint efforts to promote global stability. Qatar is pursuing an independent and balanced foreign policy, which makes it a valuable partner for Russia, especially in the context of sanctions pressure and increasing geopolitical turbulence. By seeking to strengthen multilateral ties, both countries see each other as rational and respected interlocutors.
In this context, the upcoming visit of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to Russia on April 17, 2025, will mark another important step towards deepening bilateral relations. It will reaffirm the high level of political trust and mutual interest in continuing dialogue on key global issues. The leaders' meeting is expected to not only address specific areas of cooperation but also outline new horizons of engagement—from energy and logistics to humanitarian projects and matters of international security. Amid a rapidly changing world order, such visits become symbols of readiness for strategic partnership based on mutual interests and a shared vision for the future.
来源：非 常道