Canadian Prime Minister Mark carney is currently in Doha,Qatar,pursuing investment deals and strengthening ties with a key player in the Middle East despite ongoing concerns about the nation’s human rights record [[2]]. the visit, following a trip to China, underscores a shift in Canada’s foreign policy as it seeks to diversify trade and secure partnerships in sectors like artificial intelligence and energy [[1]]. Experts note the strategic importance of Qatar, now seen as a central hub for diplomatic and economic power in the region [[2]].
Doha, Qatar – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Qatar on Saturday to pursue investment deals with a nation increasingly influential in global economics and diplomacy, despite concerns over its human rights record. The visit follows a trip to China and comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the region.
According to Thomas Juneau, a Persian Gulf expert at the University of Ottawa, “Today, the epicenter of diplomatic, economic, financial, and commercial power in the Middle East is in the Gulf.” He added, “For Canada to neglect the region, as it has for the past decade, is a way of erasing ourselves from the equation in the Middle East.”
The Prime Minister’s aircraft landed in Doha despite some apprehension regarding potential U.S. military action against neighboring Iran, which could have impacted travel plans. The Qatar Investment Authority, a major player in global markets, is a key target for potential partnerships.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Carney is scheduled to attend a reception at the Amiri Diwan, the bureaucratic seat of power in Qatar, which also houses the palace of the Emir of Qatar and his office.
Carney will meet with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as the country’s Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. The Al Thani family has ruled Qatar since 1868 and holds ultimate decision-making authority, with the country’s Consultative Assembly having limited governing power.
The Qatar is bordered by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.
Photo : My Maps Google
Following the meeting, Prime Minister Carney is expected to meet with the Qatar Investment Authority before visiting a cultural institution and attending an official dinner. The Prime Minister’s office stated that Carney will seek increased commercial access and partnerships in areas including artificial intelligence, infrastructure, energy, and defense during his visit.
Qatar’s substantial natural gas wealth has fueled its state-backed investments abroad, including a growing presence in Canadian holdings. This visit builds on a significant investment agreement reached during a trip to the United Arab Emirates in November, where media access to the Prime Minister’s events was heavily restricted.
Qatar often has strained relations with its neighbors: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt. (Archival photo)
Photo : Getty Images / Sean Gallup
Qatar, a U.S. ally, has taken on increasing diplomatic importance, hosting negotiations between Israel and Hamas and assisting Canada with the repatriation of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. The country has also sought to mediate between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and between Venezuela and Washington. Qatar has hosted a Taliban delegation since the group seized control of Afghanistan in 2021, though Canada has maintained limited engagement with its officials on human rights issues.
Qatar decided it would play a role as a mediator, a facilitator in conflict resolution and that, to do so, it had to be able to talk to everyone.
Thomas Juneau, research fellow at the Strategic Analysis Network and professor at the University of Ottawa (Archival photo)
Photo : Radio-Canada
In the spring, former U.S. President Donald Trump accepted a plane gifted by Qatar, and in September, he requested Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issue an apology for an airstrike on a Hamas complex in Doha earlier that month. Qatar also hosts numerous injured Palestinian children from Gaza.
Juneau suggests Qatar could partner with Canada to fund humanitarian and development work, as Ottawa brings expertise in effective project implementation across various regions.
Human Rights Concerns
However, Human Rights Watch has raised significant concerns regarding Qatar, citing labor exploitation leading to migrant worker deaths, restrictions on free expression, and increasing surveillance.
The country has defended itself against widespread criticism of its treatment of migrant workers and its human rights record leading up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. During the event, Qatari authorities banned items displaying rainbow imagery – including LGBTQ+ items.
The UN Women organization highlights that Qatar lacks legislation on domestic violence and abortion is illegal, even for victims of rape, unless the woman’s life is in danger. In Qatar, women require permission from a male guardian to travel abroad or work in certain jobs.
Professor Juneau says Canada has limited real influence on these issues and that publicly speaking out would have a limited effect. Prime Minister Mark Carney could still raise these concerns privately, he suggests.
It’s a brutal dictatorship and that’s not going to change
, Juneau said during the interview. Human rights in Qatar are atrocious and no one should deny that realistically.
Juneau believes it is up to Canadians and their governments to decide whether to limit relations with Gulf countries over human rights concerns, or to deepen those ties to offset the economic uncertainty caused by the global trade war initiated by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
By deciding not to be there, we are really wasting not only commercial opportunities, but also diplomatic ones
, he stated.
