Travel to Qatar and Germany, September 5-8, 2021

Summary

• Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken traveled to Doha, Qatar and Ramstein, Germany from September 5-8, 2021, to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to our strong relationships and to underscore our gratitude for the ongoing cooperation on shared priorities.

• Secretary Blinken traveled to Qatar from September 6-8. He met with Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and other senior officials to thank Qatar for its generous support for the safe transit of U.S. citizens, Afghans, and other evacuees from Afghanistan. The Secretary discussed coordination of the evacuation efforts and other regional priorities that highlight the strength of the U.S.-Qatar partnership.

• On September 8, Secretary Blinken traveled to Germany. There, he met with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, attended a Ministerial on Afghanistan, and visited the major transit operation moving people from Afghanistan to the United States via Ramstein Air Base. This was an opportunity to reaffirm the strong alliance between the United States and Germany and our close cooperation on shared foreign policy priorities. The Secretary conveyed the United States’ gratitude to the German government for being an invaluable partner in Afghanistan for the past 20 years and for German cooperation on transit operations moving people out of Afghanistan.

• At both locations, Secretary Blinken also visited Department of State employees who are working closely with the Department of Defense and other departments and agencies to help U.S. citizens and vulnerable Afghans travel to their onward destinations.

• Secretary Blinken returned to Washington, DC, on September 8.