Relationship dossier
Belgium
Qatar
Relationship assessment
Practical security cooperation alongside friction over Belgium’s Qatar-linked influence investigation
Belgium toward Qatar
+20Belgium participated in security cooperation with Qatar connected with the 2022 FIFA World Cup and concluded a bilateral defense-cooperation agreement with Qatar. Belgium’s investigation into alleged Qatar-linked influence payments in the European Parliament also became a source of friction.
Qatar toward Belgium
+20Qatar concluded a bilateral defense-cooperation agreement with Belgium and cooperated with Belgian security personnel in connection with the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar criticized Belgium’s investigation into alleged Qatar-linked influence payments in the European Parliament.
Overall relationship
+15The relationship combines formal defense cooperation and practical security coordination with a significant episode of political friction over Belgium’s investigation into alleged Qatar-linked influence payments. The known cooperation supports a generally constructive but not especially close relationship; the breadth and continuity of bilateral engagement remain unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Belgium and Qatar have engaged in practical security cooperation, including cooperation connected with the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and concluded a bilateral defense-cooperation agreement. Relations have also faced strain from Belgium’s investigation into alleged Qatar-linked influence payments in the European Parliament, which Qatar criticized. The extent and durability of cooperation beyond these areas are unclear.
Areas of tension
- Qatar criticized Belgium’s investigation into alleged Qatar-linked influence payments in the European Parliament.
Key developments
Belgium and Qatar concluded a bilateral defense-cooperation agreement.
Belgium and Qatar cooperated on security arrangements connected with the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Belgian authorities investigated alleged Qatar-linked influence payments in the European Parliament; Qatar criticized the investigation.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of the bilateral defense-cooperation agreement are unclear.
- The longer-term effect of Belgium’s investigation into alleged Qatar-linked influence payments on government relations is uncertain.