In an extraordinary gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol to personally welcome Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, at Indira Gandhi Airport on Monday evening. It's rare for PM Modi to personally greet a visiting head of state at the airport, underscoring the importance of India-Qatar relations.
Emir of Qatar on a Two-Day Visit to India
Emir Al-Thani is in India on a two-day state visit. He plans to engage in bilateral talks with PM Modi, and significant agreements may be on the table. The Foreign Ministry has scheduled a formal welcome ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan complex on Tuesday, followed by a meeting with PM Modi at Hyderabad House. He will also meet President Droupadi Murmu.
On PM Modi's invitation, Al-Thani is on his second official visit to India, having previously visited in March 2015. In recent years, India and Qatar have cemented strong relations across trade, investment, energy, and culture, among others. Several key agreements are expected to be signed during this visit. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, one of the world's wealthiest rulers, boasts a fortune of around $335 billion.
Meet Tamim bin Al-Thani
Born on June 3, 1980, in Doha, Qatar, Tamim bin Al-Thani ascended to Emir of Qatar on June 25, 2013, following the tenure of his father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. Educated in the UK, Tamim also served in Qatar's military. At 44, he ranks among the youngest heads of state globally, having married three times and fathered 13 children.
After returning from a prestigious education in Britain, Tamim was named Crown Prince in 2003, and by 2009, he was Deputy Commander-in-Chief. Gaining global recognition after successfully hosting the 2006 Asian Games, he also led Qatar in hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Father's Resignation Elevates Tamim
In June 2013, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa stepped down, appointing his son Tamim as Emir. This power shift was anticipated but marked a departure from the lifelong leadership prevalent in Arab states at the time. Early in his reign, relations with some neighboring countries soured, resulting in diplomatic withdrawals in 2014. In 2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Bahrain severed ties with Qatar and imposed economic sanctions.
Source: aajtak
Subsequently, Emir Tamim redirected Qatar’s trade relations towards countries like Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, and Oman. Amid tensions, he skipped the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) annual meetings in 2018 and 2019. Upon his January 2021 return, he signed a deal to restore relations and lift sanctions with GCC leaders.
Qatar’s diplomatic ties with India played a crucial role in the release of eight former Indian naval officers from Qatari jails last year, a move seen as a significant diplomatic victory given their death sentences in Qatar's courts. A pivotal LNG agreement was also reached between the nations, a critical component since the Gulf state is the world's largest LNG exporter.
