Biden to designate Qatar a ‘major non-NATO ally’

President Joe Biden said on Monday that he intended to designate Qatar as a “major non-NATO ally,” during a meeting with the country’s head of state, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, at the White House.

“I am notifying Congress that I will designate Qatar as a major non-NATO ally to reflect the importance of our relationship," Biden said. "I think it’s long overdue.”

Bahrain and Kuwait are the only other non-NATO allies in the Gulf.

The announcement comes as the administration meets with representatives of Qatar to discuss a European energy contingency plan should Russian troops invade Ukraine, as well as their coordinated efforts to support Afghanistan following last year’s U.S. military withdrawal. Right now, Qatar is thesecond-biggest producer of liquefied natural gas in the world.

“It opens up a whole new range of opportunities … not just with the United States bilaterally but with other allies,” Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said during a briefing on Monday. “And perhaps the application of acquisition of capabilities, as well.”

Paul McLeary contributed to this report.