US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order promising to use every tool at his disposal– including military force–to defend Qatar, a wealthy Gulf nation critical to America’s security footprint in the region.
The order, dated Monday but posted on the White House website Wednesday, comes as reassurance to Doha following Israel’s surprise strike that killed six people, including a Qatari security officer, while Hamas leaders were weighing a ceasefire proposal in Gaza.
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Executive order pledges security guarantee
The document highlights the “close cooperation” and “shared interest” between the US and Qatar. It explicitly commits Washington to “guarantee the security and territorial integrity of the state of Qatar against external attack.”
“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 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.”
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Context: Netanyahu Visit and Israel strike
The timing of the order coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington on Monday. During the trip, Trump arranged a call between Netanyahu and Qatari leaders, in which the Israeli premier “expressed his deep regret” over the strike, according to the White House.
Still, questions remain about the binding nature of Trump’s promise. Legally enforceable treaties normally require Senate approval, though US presidents have often entered international agreements without it–as Barack Obama did with Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal.
Strategic importance of Qatar
Qatar, a tiny but energy-rich nation jutting into the Persian Gulf, has leveraged its vast natural gas reserves into global influence. It hosts America’s Al Udeid Air Base, a forward operating hub for US Central Command.
In 2022, then president Joe Biden designated Qatar a major non-NATO ally, citing its support during America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, regional dynamics are shifting. Following the Israeli attack, Saudi Arabia struck a mutual defense pact with Pakistan, effectively bringing the kingdom under Islamabad’s nuclear umbrella.
