Thread by @DefiyantlyFree

🧵🧵Many people talk about foreign influence and how other countries own our politicians but not one talks about what it is that they are buying.

The question is not how much money foreign countries invest; the question is how much influence they have purchased and how has that influence affected America. So I did the of research. First thread is on Qatar, other countries to follow.

I looked to see how much money Qatar has spent to buy soft power in America and how that affected American sentiment towards:

- Qatar
- Changes in Americans beliefs on US Foreign Policy, the Middle East, Israel, Immigration, Domestic Stability and mass migration.
- Anti-American sentiment
- Anti-Jewish sentiment
- Support for Open Borders
- Destabilization in America (undermining US Social cohesion, security or integrity and promoting radical activism and disinformation campaigns)

Economic Investments

Total Value: Since 2016 they have invested $40–$45 billion dollars in America and it breaks down as follows:

Real Estate:
- QIA acquired a 9.9% stake in Empire State Realty Trust (2016, $622 million), including the Empire State Building.
- Katara Hospitality purchased the Plaza Hotel (New York) for $600 million in 2018.
- QIA’s 44% stake in a Brookfield Property Partners mixed-use development (2016–2018)
- $100 million townhouse in Manhattan’s Upper East Side (2017) for Qatar’s consulate.

Energy:
- QatarEnergy’s 70% stake in Golden Pass LNG (Texas), a $10 billion joint venture with ExxonMobil, initiated in 2019 and nearing completion in 2025.

- $2.38 billion investment in RWE’s acquisition of Con Edison Clean Energy (2022), entering U.S. renewables.

- Technology/Other: Expanded tech investments via QIA’s Silicon Valley office (opened 2016), including stakes in U.S. startups ($500 million by 2025).

- Key Deals: Golden Pass LNG and Empire State Building stake reflect Qatar’s shift to high-impact, strategic sectors.

- Post-2016 investments surged, driven by Qatar’s need to counter the 2017–2021 Gulf blockade and diversify its economy. High-profile deals amplified economic leverage and visibility.

Academic Investments:

Total Donations: $5.6 billion since 2017

Key Recipients:
- Continued funding to Cornell ($600 million), Georgetown ($350 million), and Northwestern ($300 million).

- New grants to smaller institutions (e.g., University of Idaho, Chapman University) for specific programs.

- QFI: Expanded to ~$20 million in K-12 funding, criticized for promoting biased Middle East curricula.

- Transparency: Post-2020, the Deterrent Act increased scrutiny, but some institutions still underreport gifts.

- Impact: Funding correlated with increased anti-Israel activism on campuses (per ISGAP 2020 report), though causation is debated. Qatar’s influence grew in shaping academic narratives. Academic narratives softened toward Qatari policies and regional alliances.
Qatar-linked institutions hosted policy panels influencing public and student opinion. Increased normalization of groups like the Muslim Brotherhood in academic circles.

- Endowed research centers, Middle East studies programs, and entire campuses (e.g., Northwestern-Qatar).

- Avoided transparency by often failing to report gifts—until forced by Department of Education investigations.

Lobbying and Public Relations

Total Spending: Approximately $243 million since 2015, with over $16 million spent in 2023 alone with projections for 60 million in 2025.

Key Firms: BlueFront Strategies, Audience Partners Worldwide, and others, with $10 million annually post-2017 Gulf crisis.

Activities: ~200–300 lobbying contacts annually, targeting Congress, and local governments with over 24 lobbying firms (e.g., Atlanta, Montgomery).

Municipal Engagement: Expanded to ~10 U.S. cities, offering $50 million in investment proposals.

Impact: Lobbying countered Saudi/UAE narratives during the Gulf crisis. PR campaigns enhanced Qatar’s image as a mediator.

Media and Cultural Influence

-- BeIN media acquired Miramax Studios (2016, ~$300 million).

- CNN Collaboration: In 2025, CNN announced plans to launch a media operation in Qatar, aiming to enhance its Middle East coverage.

- iHeartMedia Partnership: Qatar's Government Communications Office partnered with iHeartMedia to establish a regional podcasting hub, promoting Arabic content globally.

-Media City Qatar: Formed strategic alliances with entities like Euronews and Huawei to bolster its media presence and technological capabilities.

- Al Jazeera America shut down (2016), replaced by AJ+ digital platform (~10 million U.S. monthly users by 2025).

- Reach: AJ+ gained traction among younger audiences, with ~5% of U.S. 18–34-year-olds engaging monthly.

- Cultural Initiatives: Qatar-USA Year of Culture (2021) and sports investments (e.g., attempted NBA/NFL stakes) increased visibility.

- Impact: AJ+ amplified Qatar’s narratives on U.S. social issues and Middle East policy. Cultural initiatives bolstered soft power. Qatar-aligned editorial lines subtly shape U.S. coverage of Hamas, Iran, and Gulf politics. Promotes pro-Palestinian messaging while minimizing scrutiny of Qatari links to Hamas.

Diplomatic and Military Engagement

Military Cooperation: Al Udeid expanded, with Qatar investing ~$1.8 billion (2016–2025) and hosting ~11,000 U.S. troops.

- Arms Purchases: ~$12 billion in U.S. weapons (e.g., F-15 jets, 2017–2022).

- Diplomacy: Qatar mediated high-profile conflicts (e.g., U.S.-Taliban talks 2020, Israel-Hamas negotiations 2023–2024), with ~20 U.S.-Qatar meetings annually.

- Think tanks received an additional 10 million dollars mainly Brookings.

- Impact: Qatar’s mediation role and military hosting enhanced its leverage,

Qatar has purchased significant influence over American public discourse, particularly through elite institutions.

The scope of this campaign rivals or exceeds those of larger regional actors like Saudi Arabia and China—but with less media scrutiny.

By aligning itself with progressive values, academia, and media outlets, Qatar has softened its image while continuing to maintain ties with groups like Hamas and the Taliban.

Terrorism ties:

1. Hosting of Hamas Leadership

Since 2012, Qatar has hosted the political leadership of Hamas in Doha. This arrangement was reportedly established with the encouragement of the U.S. and Israel, aiming to monitor and potentially moderate the group's activities. However, critics argue that this has provided Hamas with a safe haven. (NY Times)

2. Financial Support to Al-Qaeda Affiliates

Several Qatari nationals have been designated by the U.S. Treasury for financing Al-Qaeda and its affiliates:
Sa'd bin Sa'd al-Ka'bi: Designated in 2015 for facilitating funds to Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda's branch in Syria. (Breitbart)

Abd al-Latif al-Kawari: Accused of coordinating financial support to Al-Qaeda and facilitating the travel of couriers carrying funds. (Breitbart)

3. Sanctions on Hamas Financial Network

In October 2023, the U.S. imposed sanctions on 10 Hamas members and financial facilitators, including individuals based in Qatar. These sanctions aimed to disrupt Hamas's financial networks following attacks on Israel. Senate Banking Committee+2Axios

4. Allegations of Interference in Terror Financing Investigations

A UK court case in 2024 revealed allegations that Qatari agents used bribes and threats to undermine a terror financing case involving Doha Bank, which was accused of facilitating funds to Al-Nusra Front. Witnesses reported intimidation and coercion, leading to the withdrawal of several claimants. (Guardian)