By Cheikh Fall, Third Path Africa
Out of respect for the complexity of Middle Eastern dynamics, I have often chosen to observe rather than opine. Yet recent developments compel me to engage—particularly on the question of Qatar’s diplomatic orientation and its broader implications.
On September 9, 2025, the unthinkable happened: Israeli missiles struck Doha, targeting Hamas leaders hosted on Qatari soil. The attack, reportedly greenlit by President Trump’s administration, wasn’t just a breach of sovereignty—it was a brutal indictment of Qatar’s foreign policy.
For years, Qatar has tried to buy its way into global relevance. Billions spent on the World Cup, on American think tanks, on political goodwill. But money, it turns out, cannot purchase strategic immunity.
Qatar’s diplomacy has been everywhere and nowhere. From Sudan to Afghanistan, from the halls of Congress to the corridors of Hamas exile, it has played all sides—often at its own expense. The result? A country admired for its ambition but punished for its naivety.
Hosting Hamas was not a rogue decision. It was a calculated move, made at the request of a previous U.S. administration. But Qatar failed to anticipate the volatility of American politics and the ruthlessness of its adversaries. Today, that decision has been weaponized against it.
The lesson is clear: prestige without protection is perilous. Qatar must stop chasing applause and start building resilience. It must invest in its people, its infrastructure, and its legacy—not in fleeting diplomatic theater.
The UAE has shown what strategic clarity looks like. Qatar must now do the same.
This is not a time for denial. It is a time for reinvention.