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United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order guaranteeing the security and territorial integrity of Qatar against external aggression, after Israeli air strikes on Doha on 9 September which targeted senior Hamas leadership.
The unprecedented Israeli military operation resulted in the deaths of five lower-ranking Hamas members, along with a Qatari security staffer.
The attack drew widespread international condemnation and on 29 September, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an official apology to Qatar for the killing of one of its citizens.
In a joint call with Trump at the White House, Netanyahu conveyed his apologies to Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
The executive order signed by Trump the same day states that the US will view any armed assault on Qatar as a direct threat to American peace and security.
In response, the US government will take appropriate measures – including diplomatic, economic and if necessary, military action – to defend Qatar’s core interests.
Trump’s order underscores the longstanding cooperation and alliance between Washington and Doha.
The document notes that Qatar has hosted American forces, enabled critical security operations, and served as a steadfast mediator in resolving regional and global conflicts, all in alignment with US strategic objectives.
Security and territorial integrity
“In recognition of this history of partnership, and in light of the continuing threats posed to the State of Qatar 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,” the executive order reads.
Speaking to Euronews, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said, “My main message to my countrymen, to the people who live here in Qatar is that they can now continue enjoying the peace and prosperity that Qatar has always enjoyed because we have taken all the measures the necessary steps by the leadership his highness that any further attacks will for sure have already been deterred.”
The move is seen as part of Washington’s efforts to reassure its Gulf allies following the Israeli strikes.
Saudi Arabia has already reached a mutual defence pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan, underscoring the regional security dynamics at play.
While the legal and practical implications of Trump’s executive order remain to be fully determined, it represents a significant shift in the US administration’s approach.
Typically, such far-reaching security guarantees would require Congressional approval, marking a departure from the “America First” doctrine that has characterised much of Trump’s foreign policy.
Nonetheless, the order sends a clear message of American commitment to Qatar’s stability and sovereignty, in the face of the continued threats it faces from its neighbours.
