A Diplomatic Tribute in an Era of Ebbing Statecraft At a time when the international community is grappling with rising nationalism and isolationism, it was striking that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres paid tribute to Qatar's late Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani at a special ceremony.
The eulogy was more than just a gesture of respect; it served as a poignant reminder of the complexities of statecraft in an era where great powers are increasingly focused inward.
Guterres described Sheikh Hamad's rule as a period of "major economic, social, and institutional transformation.