Qatar's emir expected for Malta visit

Qatari ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Hamad bin Khalifa is expected to visit Malta next week, spelling a deepening of ties between Mediterranean and Gulf states since the oil-rich state took a leading role in assisting Libya's rebels against dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

After Libya, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalif al-Thani is also taking the lead in the arming of the Syrian uprising. The Persian Gulf state's role in running tonnes of weapons to the Libyan rebels in Tunisia is a well known fact, apart from joining Nato's forces in sending jet fighters to bomb Gaddafi's forces, operate a military war-room from Doha, and organising a conference on the future of post-Gaddafi Libya.

Now Qatar is spearheading the push to suspend Syria as a member of the Arab League, and has publicly called for the arming of the uprising. Since Qatar announcing its intention in March, the Syrian opposition received €76 million from Libya's national transitional council.

Finance Minister Tonio Fenech was recently in Doha for talks with Qatar's minister for energy and industry Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, for talks on an oil and gas deal that would allow the government to weather the spike in oil prices.

President George Abela's first state visit after being appointed president in 2009 was to Qatar. Qatar also used Malta as its hub for its humanitarian aid to Libya, through Qatari military officials heading the aid mission from Malta.

Like the surrounding Gulf states, Qatar is seeking to expand its international investment programme by pouring energy revenues in banking, tourism and real estate.

Qatar's role in international relations has been overlooked due to its diminutive size, but it was crucial to negotiate a resolution to the Lebanese political stalemate in 2008. Additionally, one of Qatar's greatest exports - the satellite network Al Jazeera, which is owned by the emir - has become a powerful player in Arab politics apart from furthering Qatar's global influence.