Draft:Texas A&M University Qatar Foundation Scandal

In January 2024 it emerged that, Texas A&M University, a leading institution in nuclear engineering in the United States, has a significant partnership with the Qatar Foundation, a philanthropic organization owned by Qatar's royal family. This collaboration has raised concerns about national security due to Qatar's possible ability to thus access US nuclear and military secrets as well as its connections with controversial entities, Islamist militant groups and nations.

In February 2024, Texas A&M University announced the closure of its Qatar campus.

Overview
Texas A&M University which had previously received $500 Million from the Qatari government in grants, had signed a contract between Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) and the Qatar Foundation, under which, all intellectual property developed at TAMUQ is owned by the Qatar Foundation. This arrangement, while typical for research universities, has come under scrutiny as TAMUQ is entirely funded by the Qatar Foundation, including faculty salaries, campus infrastructure, and other resources. The intellectual property includes sensitive research in various fields, and TAMUQ has collaborated with Barzan Holdings, Qatar's largest arms manufacturer, with Qatar possibly being able to access US nuclear military technological secrets.

Implications
The partnership's security implications stem from Qatar's international relationships. Qatar has been noted for providing refuge to Hamas leaders and maintaining close ties with Iran. Qatar and Iran jointly own the world's largest natural gas field, South Pars. The ownership of TAMUQ's research by the Qatar Foundation, given these ties, raised concerns about the potential misuse of intellectual property, including military and dual-use technologies.

Marc Greendorfer of the Zachor Legal Institute expressed concerns that unsecured systems between TAMUQ and the main campus could allow Iranian access to sensitive U.S. technologies. The Zachor Legal Institute and Judicial Watch have legally pursued the contract's disclosure, which was initially resisted by the Qatar Foundation but later mandated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Craig Singleton, a former U.S. intelligence analyst, highlighted that the Texas A&M agreement allowed the Qatar Foundation significant influence over research and its applications, potentially benefitting the Qatari government more than academic pursuits. Further, TAMUQ's strategic plan states its research aims to serve Qatar's interests, which Jacob Nagel, a retired Israeli Defense Forces general, finds concerning given the potential military applications. Reed Rubenstein, former general counsel for the U.S. Department of Education, also expressed fears about Iran potentially exploiting TAMUQ's research for its nuclear program.

A 2020 U.S. Department of Education report on foreign funding in American universities included concerns about TAMUQ's potential nuclear training offerings to other Gulf states and the need for Qatar Foundation's approval in TAMUQ's external research agreements. While Texas A&M asserts that TAMUQ does not engage in nuclear research or teaching, the existence of nuclear engineering courses listed for study abroad in Doha, Lake said this raised concerns regarding implications. U.S. export laws restrict the sharing of nuclear technology with countries lacking peaceful application agreements, but the Free Press noted there is no evidence of legal violations by Texas A&M.

Texas A&M University has responded to recent misinformation about its Qatar campus, emphasizing that it does not offer a nuclear engineering program or engage in nuclear technology, weapons defense, or national security research. The university president said it complies with U.S. laws and regulations and refutes claims questioning its security measures and motivations. </ref