1/7: Updated with statement from Texas A&M President Mark Welsh
A new bombshell report reveals Texas A&M University’s partnership with the government of Qatar could be a major threat to national security.
Since 2003 Texas A&M has operated a branch in the middle eastern country of Qatar, which was set up through an agreement between Texas A&M and the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development, which has close links to the Qatar royal family.
Now, a report from the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy reveals Qatar’s undisclosed funding into Texas A&M has resulted in full Qatari ownership of over 500 research projects.
Texas A&M President Mark Welsh denounced the report in a statement, claiming that “Many of the recent public reports that call into question our security measures, intentions or motivations are simply wrong, and based on false information and assumptions.”
According to the report,
Qatar has acquired full ownership of more than 500 research projects at Texas A&M, some of which are in highly sensitive fields such as nuclear science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biotech robotics, and weapons development. Critically, the confidential business-academic agreement uncovered in the report indicates that Qatar has been granted unprecedented control over academic research and standards, faculty, students, curriculum, and budgets at Texas A&M – one of the largest universities in America and a senior military college which hosts sensitive nuclear and weapon development research.
“These findings pose a potential national security risk to the United States. Qatar’s control over sensitive research and its access to nuclear information are alarming, with possible consequences reaching beyond the region and impacting the world,” said Dr. Charles Asher Small, Director of ISGAP. “This situation poses a clear and present national security risk to the United States, prompting our proactive approach in sharing this critical information with several agencies.”
To that end, ISGAP is calling for a full federal investigation into any foreign donations to U.S. universities, as well as the end of any associated research endeavors until they can be properly analyzed.
“This is not merely an academic concern; it is a matter of urgent national security. The gravity of this situation necessitates immediate attention and action,” the group warned in a letter to Jennifer M. Granholm, Secretary of the Department of Energy; Gillian Keegan, Secretary of Education; Jose Berrios, Directives Point of Contact at the National Nuclear Security Administration; Christopher T. Hanson, Chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Texas Governor Greg Abbott; Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator for Texas; General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh II, President of Texas A&M; and Dr. Alan Sams, Executive Vice President and Provost of Texas A&M.
Welsh says that “Despite what recent online reports have stated, Texas A&M at Qatar does not offer a nuclear engineering program or any classes on the subject.”
The full report may be viewed here.
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