US, Qatar delegations to hold strategic dialogue Friday

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Delegations from the US and Qatar will convene in the US capital at week's end for their fourth annual strategic dialogue, the State Department announced Wednesday.

Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani will lead Doha's delegation while the US team will be headed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the department said in a statement.

The US delegation will include officials from the National Security Council, USAID, the Defense Department and other agencies.

Blinken and Al Thani are slated to deliver opening remarks before heading behind closed doors for meetings intended to address a wide selection of issues, including regional stability, defense cooperation, public health, counterterrorism, combatting human trafficking, human rights and climate change.