The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, State of Qatar (Qatar).
Minister Anand conveyed Canada's full solidarity with Qatar amid the evolving regional developments and discussed the impact of the Islamic Republic of Iran's strikes on Qatar, as well as the broader implications of the ongoing conflict for regional security and stability. She thanked Qatar for its continued support for Canadian citizens residing in the country.
Minister Anand discussed progress made following her and Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to Qatar in January 2026, with a view to identify immediate concrete ways to deepen cooperation on shared priorities. Building on the commitment by the leaders of Canada and Qatar to strengthen bilateral ties and advance mutual prosperity, the two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a strategic dialogue at the ministerial level focused on cooperation in the security, defence and economic sectors.
The two ministers noted that the Qatar Canada 2026 Year of Culture offers an opportunity to deepen people-to-people ties and invest in stronger, more resilient partnerships grounded in shared experiences and dialogue.
Minister Anand reiterated Prime Minister Mark Carney's invitation to His Excellency to visit Canada in the coming year. The two ministers agreed to remain in close contact.
