U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged that any armed attack on Qatar will be treated as a direct threat to America’s security. Qatar welcomed the order on Wednesday, calling it a historic milestone that strengthens defense ties and deepens the scope of bilateral cooperation.
The pledge follows last month’s Israeli strike on Doha that sought Hamas leaders and unsettled Washington, where Qatar hosts America’s largest regional base. The strike, launched with little notice, stirred unease in U.S. circles, underscoring tensions between Washington’s allies over the war in Gaza.
Trump signed the order Monday while hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to discuss a Gaza peace initiative. The document declared the United States would treat an attack on Qatar’s sovereignty or critical infrastructure as a threat to its own.
It added Washington would respond with all lawful and appropriate measures — diplomatic, economic, and military — to defend shared security interests. U.S. defense and intelligence agencies were instructed to maintain contingency planning with Qatar to ensure swift responses to potential future attacks.
Qatar has emerged as a vital mediator between Israel, Hamas, and the United States, lending the pledge additional diplomatic significance and weight. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has long sought comparable guarantees, though Washington’s efforts to secure a trilateral pact with Israel remain stalled.
Riyadh recently signed a separate mutual defense accord with nuclear-armed Pakistan, highlighting shifting dynamics across the Gulf and broader Middle East. Trump’s move exceeds Joe Biden’s 2022 decision naming Qatar a major non-NATO ally, a title that stopped short of defense guarantees.
The order also follows controversy over Qatar’s gift of a Boeing 747 jetliner, set to become Trump’s new Air Force One. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Doha after the Israeli strike, confirmed negotiations toward an enhanced U.S.-Qatar defense cooperation agreement are ongoing.