WASHINGTON/DOHA
The White House has announced that the United States will regard “any armed attack” on Qatari territory as a threat to Washington and will provide the Gulf Arab state with security guarantees. The move follows an Israeli strike on the country last month.
- President Trump’s Executive Order: US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday stating: “In light of the continuing threats to the State of Qatar posed by foreign aggression, it is the policy of the United States to guarantee the security and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar against external attack.”
- US Commitment to Action: The order specified that should an attack on Qatar occur, the United States will “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.”
Recent Israeli Strike and Apology
This security agreement follows an Israeli strike on the key US regional ally on September 9, which targeted Hamas officials who were in Qatar to discuss a US peace proposal aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza.
- Netanyahu Apologizes: The United States confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Qatar’s prime minister from the White House on Monday, apologizing for the strikes and promising not to repeat the action. Netanyahu was in Washington to meet Trump and had previously remained defiant after ordering the September 9 strikes.
Qatar’s Strategic Importance
Qatar is a crucial US ally in the Gulf region. It hosts the largest US military base in the region at Al-Udeid, which also serves as a regional headquarters for elements of the US Central Command.
