President Donald Trump has issued a new executive order pledging that the United States will guarantee Qatar’s security, including retaliatory military action if the Gulf nation faces another attack. The move follows Israel’s unprecedented air strikes on Doha last month, which killed several Hamas officials and a Qatari security officer, sparking international outrage.
Israel claimed the September 9 attack targeted Hamas leaders meeting in the Qatari capital to discuss a U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire plan. While the leaders escaped unharmed, the incident severely strained relations between Doha and Tel Aviv. On September 29, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally apologized to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in a joint call with Trump from the White House.
In his executive order, Trump underscored Qatar’s role as a “steadfast ally in pursuit of peace, stability, and prosperity,” citing its history of supporting U.S. mediation in regional and global conflicts. He declared it the policy of the United States to defend Qatar’s “security and territorial integrity against external attack.”
The Biden administration’s top diplomat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visited Doha on September 16 to reaffirm Washington’s commitment after the strikes. His talks with Qatari leaders came a day after Arab and Islamic leaders convened in the Qatari capital to express solidarity with the country.
Qatari officials have described Israel’s actions as “cowardly and treacherous,” vowing to protect their sovereignty and prevent any repeat of such attacks.
This executive order signals a deepening U.S.-Qatar partnership while highlighting Washington’s delicate balancing act between its Gulf ally and long-standing support for Israel.
