WASHINGTON — In a significant move to bolster U.S.-Qatar security ties, President Donald Trump has pledged that any armed attack on Qatar will be treated as a direct threat to the United States, according to an executive order published on Wednesday. The declaration signals a potential U.S. military response to defend the Gulf nation if needed.
Qatar welcomed Trump’s announcement, calling it a milestone in strengthening bilateral defense cooperation. The order comes in the wake of last month’s Israeli airstrike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, which caught Washington off guard due to Qatar’s hosting of the largest U.S. military base in the region.
Dated Monday, the same day Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, the order states: “The United States shall regard any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure of the state of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States. In the event of such an attack, the United States shall take all lawful and appropriate measures, including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military, to defend the interests of the United States and of the state of Qatar and to restore peace and stability.”
The document adds that top U.S. defense officials will maintain contingency planning with Qatar to ensure a rapid and coordinated response to potential threats. While Saudi Arabia has sought similar assurances as part of Washington’s push to normalize relations between Riyadh and Israel, no such agreement has yet been reached.
