Foreign policies with international reach: The case of Qatar

Qatar has a unique importance on an international level in that despite its small size, it possesses the third largest reserves of natural gas, and has emerged as the leading global producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas to liquid fuels (GTL). This has allowed it to attain a role considerably beyond its geopolitical position. With Qatari gas now being exported to Europe, South Asia and North America, it has tied itself in with energy security calculations which brings with it a significant presence within the international system. Qatar’s foreign policy is therefore of importance not only as a case study in the foreign affairs of a GCC member country, but more specifically in the international relations of the Gulf, given the manner in which it is engaging on a multi-regional level which is not the case with all of the GCC member states.