In an increasingly multipolar world, many small nations have specific and unique assets at their disposal which are often overlooked, whether that be their natural resources or advantageous geographical locations, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, has said.
Participating in a discussion session titled 'Rethinking the Role of Small State Actors in International Politics', in New York on Tuesday, HE the minister said small states can contribute to the global arena and reiterated the strength of smaller states when it comes to efficiency, flexibility and adaptability.
He provided the example of the United Nations General Assembly where smaller states carry the same vote as countries such as Russia, China or the United States, while highlighting that such larger states also carry a responsibility to protect the world and ensure that international law is enforced.
He also noted the importance of multilateral mechanisms to protect smaller states around the globe, resolving potential disputes in a peaceful manner.
The session was held by the Doha Forum in partnership with the prestigious Concordia Annual Summit and moderated by Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky, Senior Fellow, Harvard University Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
Reiterating Qatar's role as a peacekeeper, HE the minister demonstrated that while a country may be smaller in size, this does not limit its international positive impact.
In this respect, he stated his thoughts on international cooperation and common marketplaces such as the European Union, which could also be replicated in the future within the region.
HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also noted that forging alliances is very important for any small state, saying that any multilateral mechanism for a small state matters as they provide "clear principles for cooperation between neighbours and give access to a common market which is something missing in the small states case."
He added:" If you look at ASEAN as a block, they represent a market for over 600mn people which is significant; if you look at specific states within this, for example Singapore which proved to be a successful small state model, of 5mn people I think, it can leverage this benefit. If you look at our region and the GCC, you will find that the GCC has so far failed to address the Gulf crisis."
The Concordia Annual Summit, which takes place in New York between September 22 and 24 , is the largest and most inclusive non-partisan forum in the world, and ran alongside the United Nations General Assembly. The summit gathers decision makers, opinion formers and the next generation of partnership builders aimed at catalysing action through shared values. This year, the Doha Forum chose to partner with this prestigious summit to work through shared values of actionable change and social impact through in-depth discussion.
An annual policy forum, Doha Forum held in Doha, Qatar, immerses global leader and policymakers in crucial debate on the changing dynamics of world affairs.
This year's forum will take place on December 14 and 15 under the theme; "Reimagining Governance in a Multipolar World", which has been specially designed to reflect recent developments in migration, climate change, changing world leaderships and the rise of new global powers.
Last year, the Forum made breakthroughs challenging topics by encouraging open discussion on a platform enveloped in the values of diversity, diplomacy and dialogue.