Trump Gives Security Guarantee to Qatar After Israeli Strike, Netanyahu Concern

The United States president Donald Trump signed an executive order promising to ensure security of Qatar including assurance of retaliatory military force in the event that the Gulf country is attacked once again. The order follows the precedent of the attack Israel launched on Qatar earlier this month, causing an unprecedented outrage in the region and worldwide.

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The attack that Israel said was directed at Hamas leaders gathering in Doha to deliberate on a ceasefire plan negotiated by the United States and which Israel supported left several Hamas negotiating team members dead, but not the high-ranking executives. Another victim of the attack was a Qatari security officer.

Previously, Israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Qatar on the killing of its citizen. It was delivered to the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in a joint call with Donald Trump, at the White House.

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US–Qatar Ties Elevated

In his order, Donald Trump referred to Qatar as a long-term partner in the quest to achieve peace, stability and prosperity and underlined the strong military relationship between the two countries.

“The United States and Qatar have been bound together by close cooperation, shared interests, and the close relationship between our armed forces," the US President said, adding, “In recognition of this history, and 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."

Qatar is the home to the largest US military base in the Middle East, the Al Udeid Air Base, that has been longtime central to the operations of Washington in the region. This new US commitment technically leaves Qatar under a formal American security umbrella, which reminds of the elements of traditional defense alliances.

The relocation is an indication that Washington wants to strengthen the role of Doha as a major mediator in the conflict affecting the region.

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