Trump signs executive order pledging US defense of Qatar

WASHINGTON, United States (MNTV) – President Donald Trump has issued an executive order pledging that the United States will guarantee Qatar’s security, including the use of retaliatory force if the Gulf state comes under attack.

The move follows Israel’s airstrikes on Doha last month, which killed several Hamas envoys and a Qatari security officer, sparking global outrage.

Israel claimed the attack targeted Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital, where they were discussing a US-backed ceasefire plan for Gaza.

The strike killed members of the group’s negotiating team but missed senior figures. Qatar denounced the raid as “cowardly and treacherous.”

In the aftermath, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized for the Qatari casualty during a joint call with Trump and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the White House.

Trump’s order described Qatar as “a steadfast ally in pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity,” stressing that the US would treat any attack on the country’s sovereignty or infrastructure as a threat to American security.

While the pledge signals stronger defense ties, its legal weight remains uncertain since binding treaties usually require Senate approval.

The order comes amid efforts to repair strained relations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Doha on September 16, days after Arab and Islamic leaders rallied behind Qatar in an emergency summit.

He reaffirmed “the enduring US-Qatar security partnership.”

Qatar hosts the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US facility in the region, and was designated a major non-NATO ally in 2022. Analysts say its role as a hub for US operations makes security guarantees inevitable.