Assessing the Impact of Brexit on the UK-Qatar Relations: Economic and Political Dimensions

Abstract

The economic and political cooperation between the United Kingdom and Qatar has been at the agenda of the Gulf studies since the mid 19th century. Political consolidation in the state-formation process of Qatar, defence cooperation and economic ties based on energy and foreign investments are central elements of the parties’ relations for decades. In this respect, Qatar and Britain have been loyal allies, despite the changes in the regional political atmosphere and their domestic politics. The post-Brexit era might trigger the UK and Qatar to develop their economic and political bilateral ties. This paper aims to discuss what makes these countries mutually economically and politically attractive to maintain their dynamic partnership. The primary purpose of this research is the codification of the British-Qatari relations during the post-Brexit era while considering the continuities and the changes that bilateral ties have faced for years. This will assist in understanding the impact of Brexit, as well as the current blockade against Qatar, with a particular emphasis on the economic and political relationship between the two countries. In this context, this paper focuses on the ongoing defence cooperation and rising military trade between Qatar and the UK, in addition to trade and investment agreements after Brexit.

Keywords

• Economics Relations
• Political Relations
• Qatar
• United Kingdom
• Brexit

Brexit’in Birleşik Krallık-Katar İlişkileri Üzerindeki Etkisinin Değerlendirilmesi: Ekonomik ve Siyasi Boyutlar

Öz

Birleşik Krallık ile Katar arasındaki ekonomik ve siyasi işbirliği, 19. yüzyılın ortalarından itibaren Körfez bölgesi çalışmalarında önem arz etmektedir. Katar'ın devlet oluşum sürecindeki siyasi konsolidasyon, savunma işbirliği ve enerji ve yabancı yatırımlara dayalı ekonomik bağlar, bu iki ülkenin ilişkilerinde temel unsur olmuştur. Bu bağlamda, Katar ve İngiltere, bölgesel siyasi atmosferdeki ve iç siyasetindeki değişikliklere rağmen sadık müttefikler olmuştur. Brexit ile birlikte bu iki ülkenin ekonomik ve siyasi ilişkileri daha da geliştirilebilir. Bu makale, dinamik ortaklıklarını sürdürmek için bu ülkeleri karşılıklı ekonomik ve politik olarak çekici kılan şeyin ne olduğunu tartışmayı amaçlamaktadır. Buradan hareketle, bu araştırmanın temel amacı, ikili ilişkilerin yıllardır karşılaştığı süreklilikler ve değişimler göz önünde bulundurularak, Brexit sonrası dönemde İngiliz-Katar ilişkilerinin kodlanmasıdır. Bu, iki ülke arasındaki ekonomik ve siyasi ilişkiye özel bir vurgu yaparak, Brexit'in etkisinin yanı sıra Katar'a yönelik yapılan ablukanın anlaşılmasına yardımcı olacaktır. Bu bağlamda, bu makale Brexit sonrası ticaret ve yatırım anlaşmalarına ek olarak Katar ve Birleşik Krallık arasında devam eden savunma işbirliğine ve artan askeri ticarete odaklanmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ekonomik İlişkiler
• Siyasi İlişkiler
• Katar
• Birleşik Krallık
• Brexit

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