On October 3, 2020, Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper met with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Dr. Khalid bin Muhammad Al-Attiyah while in Qatar.
Secretary Esper expressed his gratitude for the Qatari Emir’s hospitality in hosting 8,000 U.S. service members and DoD civilians in Qatar. The two discussed the importance of the strong defense partnership and bolstering interoperability between the U.S. and Qatar.
They also recognized the solemn circumstances of Secretary Esper’s visit to the region, the unfortunate passing of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the late Amir of the State of Kuwait. The Secretary acknowledged the important role the Sheikh played in promoting cooperation through the Gulf region.
Secretary Esper and Dr. Khalid expressed their interest in strengthening broader regional defense cooperation to ensure collective security and a unified response to threats.