Qatar and Singapore emphasize dialogue, diplomacy and restoring navigational security in the Middle East

The State of Qatar and Singapore expressed deep concern about developments in the Middle East, especially the renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran, stressing the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to reach a peaceful and lasting settlement of the conflict, and praising the diplomatic efforts made by the State of Qatar to facilitate dialogue and reduce escalation in the region.

The two sides also expressed their concern about the continuing threats to maritime security and international navigation, including attacks on ships in the Red Sea, and their resulting effects on global trade and navigation safety. In the same context, the two sides stressed the need to respect and protect navigational rights and freedoms in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and to ensure the safety of sailors and ships in accordance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, stressing the importance of restoring the safe and continuous passage of ships and aircraft through the Strait of Hormuz, as it is a vital international navigation corridor.

This came during the meeting hosted by Doha of the implementation monitoring mechanism of the joint supreme committee between the two countries, headed by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Sultan Al Muraikhi, and the Singaporean Foreign Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, with the participation of the Minister of State in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs in Singapore, Zulqarnain Abdul Rahim. On the other hand, they expressed their aspiration to enhance trade and investment flows between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council, including the ongoing discussions on the Free Trade Agreement, in line with what was stipulated in the Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation, which was adopted at the second summit between the two sides in May 2025. The two parties stressed the importance of the Joint Higher Committee as the main platform for guiding bilateral relations, and they also emphasized the role of the implementation monitoring mechanism in following up on decisions and agreements and transforming them into practical results that enhance joint cooperation. The two sides also reviewed the work of the six technical committees emanating from the mechanism, which include the fields of information and communications technology, security, business, law, sustainability, and social development, stressing the importance of continuing coordination and developing cooperation in these sectors. They welcomed the acceptance of the State of Qatar as a partner in the sectoral dialogue of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in July 2026. The two sides also expressed their aspiration for the upcoming meeting of the foreign ministers of ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council, on the sidelines of the work of the eighty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York during September 2026, co-chaired by Singapore, in its capacity as coordinator of ASEAN relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Bahrain, as the current President of the Council. The two parties pointed to the common interests between Qatar and Singapore, and their active role in the Small States Forum and the Global Governance Group, renewing their commitment to supporting a rules-based international system and promoting an open multilateral trading system. At the conclusion of the meeting, the two parties expressed their satisfaction with the progress achieved in implementing the outcomes of joint cooperation, and agreed to continue following up on the results of the meeting through diplomatic channels and specialized technical committees, and to hold the fourth meeting of the implementation monitoring mechanism in Singapore during the year 2027.