U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to treat any armed attack on Qatar as a threat to the United States’ own security, according to a document published on Wednesday that says U.S. forces could step in to defend the Middle Eastern nation.
Qatar on Wednesday welcomed Trump’s order, describing it as a milestone in strengthening defence ties and bilateral cooperation, its foreign ministry said.
The executive order — which appears to significantly deepen the U.S. commitment to Qatar — comes after Israel last month attempted to kill Hamas leaders with an airstrike on Doha.
That strike, launched with little advance notice to the Trump administration, caused consternation in Washington given the close U.S. relationship with Qatar, which hosts the largest U.S. military base in the region.
WATCH | Moment of Israeli in Qatar attack:
CCTV footage, which was posted to social media and verified by Reuters, shows the immediate aftermath of an Israeli strike on a building in Doha, Qatar, with flames and a billowing black cloud of smoke.
Pledge to respond
The document was dated Monday, the day Trump hosted Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House and presented a proposal for ending the war in Gaza. Qatar has been a key mediator between the U.S. and Israel and Hamas over the war.
“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,” the order said.
“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.”
WATCH | What was Israel’s strategy?
The National’s Adrienne Arsenault asks world politics expert Janice Stein to break down the potential consequences of Israel’s targeted strike in Qatar.
The document said top U.S. defence and intelligence officials will maintain contingency planning with Qatar to ensure a rapid response to any attacks.
Neighbouring Saudi Arabia has long sought similar guarantees as part of Washington’s efforts to normalize relations between Riyadh and Israel, but such a deal has not materialized. Last month, Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defence pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan.
Jetliner gifted to Trump from Qatar
While the president can negotiate collective defence treaties like the one that created NATO, it requires Senate confirmation to become law. An executive order can be repealed by any U.S. president in the future and it is unclear what would compel the U.S. to fulfil the commitment.
Trump’s order goes beyond a 2022 order by his predecessor Joe Biden that designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, allowing increased military cooperation but falling short of promising to defend Qatar if attacked.
There was no U.S. military response when Qatar came under attack by Iran in June after a U.S. strike on nuclear facilities in Iran.
The Trump administration in May officially accepted a luxury Boeing 747 jetliner as a gift from Qatar and the military is working to prepare it for use as a new Air Force One to transport the president. Trump dismissed legal and ethical concerns over the plane’s transfer.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Doha after the Israeli strike, and said an enhanced defence co-operation agreement was being finalized with Qatar.
