In brief
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani unveiled the “Thriving States” concept on Friday, 7 November 2026 at the Oxford Union. He argued that small nations could pool resources to counteract being first casualties in conflicts, and he referenced Doha’s mediation efforts in the US‑Iran standoff. While officials confirmed the proposal’s presentation, outcomes of the proposed peace framework remain uncertain.
On Friday, 7 November 2026, Qatar’s foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani introduced a new initiative at the Oxford Union: a bloc of small states he called “Thriving States” that could collectively foster global peace.
He urged “agile, stable, prosperous and trusted nations that have turned their size into an advantage” to adopt the label and to work together rather than act alone.
Sheikh Mohammed warned that “smaller states are increasingly the first casualties in conflicts not of their own making.” He said the bloc would pool expertise, economic capabilities and diplomatic networks to build a “supply chain of peace and stability for the world.”
"We cannot outsource our stability, nor should we surrender to inaction. History is littered with the ghosts of passive onlookers and only celebrates those who act to shape it," he said.
On the same day, he referenced Doha’s mediation role in the US‑Iran standoff, noting “Doha has worked with US administration colleagues who have very genuine intentions to find a way to contain the situation and de‑escalate it. Efforts continue ‘to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.’”
While the proposal and the minister’s statements were confirmed by the Anadolu Agency, the effectiveness of the proposed peace framework and the outcome of the Doha‑US mediation remain unconfirmed.
