Qatar is exerting a growing influence in France, with massive investments in various economic and cultural sectors. Endowed with considerable financial resources, the Persian Gulf kingdom is using its sovereign wealth fund to extend its influence worldwide, including in France. The Emir of Qatar’s recent state visit to France underlines the importance of the economic, diplomatic and cultural ties between the two countries.   Located on the edge of the Persian Gulf, Qatar is a country slightly smaller than the Île-de-France region. Endowed with substantial hydrocarbon reserves, mainly natural gas, the country experienced exponential growth in the late 1990s. Today, … Continue reading Qatar: France under influence?