Texas A&M President Rejects Security Concerns Over Qatar Research Partnership

PHILADELPHIA – February 2, 2024 – Reporting by Benjamin Weinthal, Milstein Writing Fellow at the Middle East Forum (MEF), has ignited a dispute over Texas A&M University at Qatar’s (TAMUQ) research agreements with the State of Qatar. Weinthal’s investigation alleges that Qatar has acquired full ownership of over 500 research projects at TAMUQ, including those in sensitive fields such as nuclear science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biotechnology, robotics, and weapons development.

According to Weinthal, the Qatar Foundation, controlled by the ruling al-Thani family, owns all intellectual property developed at TAMUQ, raising significant concerns about the transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The MEF report highlights that knowledge from Texas A&M’s main U.S. campus is transferred to Qatar in disciplines like physics, computer science, and bioengineering, which have critical defense applications.

Texas A&M University is among six American universities operating fully funded campuses in Doha, Qatar. The Gulf state has been identified by the U.S. government as a major financial supporter of Hamas, the terrorist organization responsible for the October 7, 2023, massacre of over 1,200 Israelis and others, as well as the kidnapping of 253 individuals.

In response to the MEF report, Mark Welsh, the newly appointed president of Texas A&M’s main campus in the United States, dismissed the allegations as “insanity” and “irresponsible,” according to a report by KTBX News in Bryan, Texas. Welsh emphasized the university’s “really, really strong track record of protecting national security research information every day,” noting recognition from the Department of Defense, the intelligence community, and other authorities.

MEF Director Gregg Roman expressed concern over the potential risks, questioning, “What’s to stop Qatar from passing along sensitive research from A&M’s Texas and Doha campuses to America’s enemies?”

Winfield Myers, director of Campus Watch, added, “Tiny Qatar is the largest foreign donor to American universities. Dangerous agreements like the one Texas A&M struck with Doha demonstrate that some schools will sell out to foreign powers if the cash flow is massive and dependable. Americans should demand an immediate investigation into this situation.”

The Middle East Forum, which promotes American interests in the Middle East and counters Islamist influence, supports its mission through original research, activism, and funding allied organizations.

For further information, MEF contact Gregg Roman at Roman@MEForum.org or +1 (215) 546 5406. Follow @GreggRoman on Twitter.