Qatar is not, nor has it ever been, independent. It is by definition a client state of a larger global empire--Ottomans, British, and now Americans. In exchange for protection from local threats (i.e. KSA, Bahrain, Iran) the global empire receives strategic resources--military bases, oil, contracts, etc. The Al Thani first came to prominence in the 19th century because the British decided to back them against other rivals on the peninsula. Can you imagine what would happen if Qatar announced it was going to ignore its contracts with Exon and insist the Americans leave their military bases? Regime change would be almost instantaneous.
I'm not criticizing Qatar or its rules. They've made a good run of it, playing the larger powers and getting a good deal for the protection and benefits they offer. But don't kid yourselves about independence.
Qatar is not, nor has it ever been, independent. It is by definition a client state of a larger global empire--Ottomans, British, and now Americans. In exchange for protection from local threats (i.e. KSA, Bahrain, Iran) the global empire receives strategic resources--military bases, oil, contracts, etc. The Al Thani first came to prominence in the 19th century because the British decided to back them against other rivals on the peninsula. Can you imagine what would happen if Qatar announced it was going to ignore its contracts with Exon and insist the Americans leave their military bases? Regime change would be almost instantaneous.
I'm not criticizing Qatar or its rules. They've made a good run of it, playing the larger powers and getting a good deal for the protection and benefits they offer. But don't kid yourselves about independence.