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

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.