British News Agency

Speaking at the event titled "Qatar: The Future of Diplomacy and the Opportunities and Challenges of Mediation" at Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs) in London, Al-Khulaifi said that Article 7 of Qatar's Constitution establishes the country's foreign policy on the peaceful promotion of international peace and security.

Al-Khulaifi said Qatar's approach is not to choose between parties but to preserve relations with all sides, especially during periods of deep disagreement, adding: "Communicating with all parties does not mean agreeing with them. Keeping channels of dialogue open during times of crisis is the foundation of reaching common ground."

He said mediation is no longer merely a diplomatic tool but has become a strategic necessity, noting that today's conflicts simultaneously involve military, political, economic, technological and humanitarian dimensions.

Al-Khulaifi stated that artificial intelligence, cyberattacks and digital disinformation have made diplomatic processes more complex, making diplomacy faster, more flexible and more resilient.

He referred to Qatar's mediation efforts in Afghanistan, humanitarian assistance and hostage exchanges in Gaza, as well as negotiation processes in Chad and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, saying that lasting progress is achieved through "quiet diplomacy, patience and the determination to sustain dialogue."

Al-Khulaifi stressed that successful mediation rests on three key pillars: access, trust and determination. "A mediator cannot force parties to negotiate. Its strength comes from the confidence it builds that it will act fairly, preserve confidentiality and conduct the process in the service of peace," he said.

He added that future global challenges such as artificial intelligence, climate change, migration, pandemics and competition over resources will increase the need for credible mediation, calling on the international community to invest in diplomatic capacity alongside military and economic capabilities.

Concluding his remarks by recalling former South African President Nelson Mandela's words, "If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy," Al-Khulaifi said: "The future will be shaped not only by power, but by those who have the patience to build trust and the determination to keep dialogue alive."