September 8, 2026:The US military presence in the Gulf was once regarded as a security shield, but it is no longer sufficient to guarantee regional security, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari has said.
Middle East Eye reported the comments on Monday, September 7.
Speaking at the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi, Al-Ansari said strategic alliances with the United States and the presence of international forces remain important for Gulf countries. However, he stressed that security cannot be ensured by relying solely on such arrangements.
“Self-reliance in security is the only way forward. We need partners and allies, but we cannot depend on them alone to ensure our security,” he said.
Since the US-Israel war began on February 28, Qatar has emerged as one of the main targets of retaliatory attacks by Iran. Qatar hosts the largest US military base in the Arab world, as well as the regional headquarters of US Central Command.
Earlier, former US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines warned at the Financial Times Festival that reducing the US military presence in the Gulf could create greater risks than maintaining a full-scale presence.
Earlier this year, thousands of US troops and embassy personnel were evacuated from the Gulf region as Iran intensified attacks on US assets and energy infrastructure.
Al-Ansari also acknowledged that rebuilding trust with Iran would take time. In an interview with The National, he said restoring that trust was essential because Iran would always remain a neighbor of Qatar and other Gulf countries.
He also criticized Washington’s policy of imposing tough sanctions on Iran, arguing that sanctions had failed to produce the desired results in the past. According to him, the problems must ultimately be resolved through negotiations.
Al-Ansari also differed with the US position on the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously called for the construction of oil pipelines to bypass the strait and claimed that Hormuz would become “worthless” within two years.
Al-Ansari rejected that assessment, saying that even if alternative routes are developed, the Strait of Hormuz will remain an important route for international trade.
Source: Middle East Eye