President Donald Trump was photographed inside the Oval Office on Tuesday after taking a step that could reshape U.S. ties in the Gulf: signing an executive order pledging America’s protection of Qatar.
The order, dated Monday, declares that any armed assault on Qatar’s sovereignty, land, or vital infrastructure will be considered “a threat to the peace and security of the United States.”
This unprecedented commitment came just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Washington. During his visit, Netanyahu apologized in a phone call to Qatar’s prime minister over last month’s Israeli strike in Doha. Standing beside Netanyahu later, Trump unveiled his 20-point Gaza peace framework, which notably left out a clause from earlier drafts that would have barred Israel from targeting Qatar.
Trump’s directive commits Washington to respond if Qatar comes under 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 the State of Qatar and to restore peace and stability.”
Qatar’s reaction
Doha quickly welcomed the move. Its foreign minister issued a statement describing the order as proof of the “strong and longstanding ties” between the two capitals. Qatar, the statement continued, would continue to work with Washington and its partners as a mediator to resolve conflicts through diplomacy and to support regional stability.
Why this matters
The decision represents a diplomatic milestone for Qatar, which for years has sought an explicit U.S. security umbrella similar to what other Gulf states have pursued. Washington already designated Qatar a major non-NATO ally in 2022, granting it special military privileges, and Al Udeid Air Base has long stood as one of the Pentagon’s most important hubs in the region.
Trump had foreshadowed such a step earlier this year while visiting Qatar, where he vowed to “protect” the country during a tour that also yielded nearly $3 trillion in investment commitments from Gulf states. Since then, Qatar has been struck twice — once by Iran, once by Israel — underscoring its vulnerability.
Regional ripple effects
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also been pressing for firmer U.S. security assurances. Riyadh in particular had negotiated with Washington during the Biden years about a more formal pact, but talks fizzled without a finalized agreement. Trump’s decision to act unilaterally with Qatar will likely fuel speculation about whether others in the Gulf could receive similar pledges.
For Qatar, the order amounts to the strongest signal yet that Washington sees its security as tied directly to America’s own. For Trump, it’s a bold play in one of the most volatile neighborhoods on earth.