Doha, Qatar: Qatar has called for a new, inclusive approach to international peacebuilding, warning that unchecked regional escalation, growing military expenditure and fragmented diplomatic efforts are pushing the world towards a dangerous period of prolonged conflict.
Advisor to the Prime Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed Mohammed Al Ansari said the international community must develop a systematic “supply chain for peace” that brings together countries and regional partners to strengthen mediation, resolve conflicts and support post-conflict recovery.
Speaking during a session titled ‘Chokepoints, Supply Chains, and the Diplomacy of De-escalation’ at the Global Security Forum yesterday, Dr. Al Ansari stressed that peacebuilding should not be controlled by a handful of powerful countries but should draw on the collective capabilities of the international community.
“The world is investing in war, not in peace,” he said, highlighting the disparity between global military expenditure and funding for international peacekeeping.
Dr. Al Ansari noted that approximately $3tn is spent annually on military expenditure worldwide, compared with a little over $5bn spent by the United Nations on peacekeeping.
He argued that the international community must move beyond ad hoc diplomatic interventions towards a coordinated framework capable of addressing conflicts and sustaining peace after agreements are reached.
“The moment you sign a deal and say this war is over is where the work begins,” he said, lamenting that international attention often diminishes once a ceasefire or peace agreement is announced.
The discussion, moderated by Victoria Leeswood, Middle East News Director for the Associated Press, examined Qatar’s mediation efforts amid escalating regional tensions, the challenges facing negotiations and the wider implications of conflicts for international security and economic stability.
On efforts to secure a resolution to tensions involving Iran and the United States, Dr. Al Ansari said Qatar continued to work with the parties, Pakistan and other regional partners to facilitate negotiations.
He said the current mediation process involved exchanging messages between the sides, coordinating regional diplomatic engagement and addressing differences that could prevent progress towards an agreement.
Dr. Al Ansari described the broad regional cooperation supporting the negotiations as an important feature of the current diplomatic efforts, while cautioning that the situation on the ground was becoming increasingly difficult.
He also emphasised the importance of keeping negotiations away from excessive public scrutiny, arguing that irresponsible media reporting could undermine confidence and weaken the positions of those advocating agreements within the parties involved.
“Trust in the process, not trust in each other, allows for mediation to succeed,” he said, explaining that confidence-building measures could help parties overcome deep-rooted mistrust.
He added that ceasefires should be regarded as openings for dialogue rather than final solutions to conflicts. Drawing on Qatar’s mediation experience, he said negotiators should avoid overcomplicating ceasefire arrangements and focus on establishing the conditions necessary for meaningful discussions.
Dr. Al Ansari warned that continued escalation across the Middle East risked drawing more countries into conflict, with consequences extending beyond the region.
He called for efforts to address interconnected conflicts simultaneously rather than allowing individual crises to intensify unchecked.
On Yemen, he reiterated Qatar’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and the legitimate Yemeni government, stressing the importance of restoring stability and addressing the aspirations of the Yemeni people.
He also welcomed regional defensive cooperation, saying the Middle East needed a new security architecture that was inclusive, addressed the concerns of all parties and responded to destabilising regional dynamics.
“This is not the time to freeze conflict again. This is not the time to be complacent with conflict,” he said, calling for regional dialogue to identify lasting solutions.
Addressing Gaza, Dr. Al Ansari said Qatar continued working with regional partners, including Türkiye and Egypt, alongside the United States, to create conditions for a sustainable resolution. He argued that lasting peace required Palestinians to have a credible pathway towards an independent state and a future built around the aspirations of their people.
He expressed concern that political rhetoric focused on war and destruction was undermining prospects for a peaceful settlement and making reconciliation increasingly difficult.
Reflecting on the wider international landscape, Dr. Al Ansari warned that the world was approaching a critical juncture, with active or emerging conflicts affecting numerous regions.
He urged political leaders to demonstrate the responsibility necessary to prevent further escalation, cautioning that the international community risked allowing conflicts to develop into a much wider confrontation.
Qatar’s proposed “supply chain for peace”, he said, would enable countries to pool their strengths, coordinate mediation efforts and work collectively on conflict prevention and reconstruction. The approach, he argued, would help transform peacebuilding from a series of isolated diplomatic initiatives into a sustained international commitment, ensuring that efforts continue long after the signing of a ceasefire or peace agreement.
