West accused of overlooking non-Ukrainian conflicts — Analysis
Qatari and Saudi Arabia made it clear that they were more concerned about the conflict in Ukraine than events elsewhere in the Middle East.
The US’ major non-NATO ally Qatar, along with Saudi Arabia, have shamed the West for paying disproportionately more attention to Ukraine than to conflicts in nations across the Middle East.
“The humanitarian suffering that we have seen in Ukraine … has been the suffering of a lot of countries in this region for years, and nothing happened,”Roundtable discussions took place at the Doha Forum’s annual Doha Forum. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani was Qatari foreign minister.
He reminded them of “the brutality against the Syrian people, or against the Palestinians, or against the Libyans, or against the Iraqis, or against the Afghans,”And he said that in his opinion, “we have never seen a global response to address those sufferings.”
The EU and the US have been at the forefront of the international campaign to help Ukraine during the ongoing conflict with Russia. They’ve delivered weapons to Kiev, and placed severe economic sanctions upon Moscow.
Ukraine’s events should be a wakeup call “a wake-up call for everyone in the international community to look at our region and to address the issues … with the same level of commitment,”The FM did not give up.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Faisal bin Farhan supported Qatari position and was open to accepting that “the engagement of the global community … it’s quite different.”
“The trans-Atlantic unity right now, its commendable. But I think you have to have a much better conversation with the rest of the global community,”He concluded.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been recognized as strategic allies by the West. The US recently gave the Saudi Arabia the title of Strategic Ally. “major non-NATO ally.”Because of their strong ties with Russia, both wealthy Gulf states have maintained an impartial stance regarding the Ukraine situation.
Washington and Brussels are hoping Doha and Riyadh will boost their oil and gas production to reduce the West’s dependence on Russian energy.
However, Qatari Energy Minister Saad Shahrida al-Kaabi stated that replacing Russian gas is the best option. “not practically possible.” He stated that Doha would not be imposing sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas sector as “energy should stay out of politics.”
Moscow sent its troops into Ukraine a month ago, following a seven-year standoff over Kiev’s failure to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements, and Russia’s eventual recognition of the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. The protocols were French- and German-brokered to normalize those areas within Ukraine’s state.
Russia demanded Ukraine to declare itself neutral, and that it will not be joining the US-led NATO military bloc. Kiev claims that the Russian invasion was unprovoked. It also denied claims it planned to take the republics forcefully.
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