Trump gives Qatar NATO-style security guarantee
Trump visited Qatar earlier this year and touted billions of dollars in new US investments from the Gulf state. Getty Images
President Trump signed an executive order this week granting Qatar a NATO-style security guarantee against foreign aggression.
The order establishes U.S. policy to protect the “security and territorial integrity” of Qatar against “external attack,” following the controversial Sept. 9 Israeli missile strikes that targeted Hamas leaders in Doha.
According to the White House, the order states: “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. 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.”
The directive also instructs cabinet officials to “maintain joint contingency planning” with Qatar to ensure a rapid and coordinated response to any foreign aggression against the Gulf state.
President Trump signed the order on Monday, coinciding with a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House. During a three-way call organized by Trump with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Netanyahu expressed “deep regret” for the strikes and pledged that Israel would not conduct similar attacks in the future, according to a White House readout.
The Sept. 9 strikes killed six people, including a Qatari security official, and targeted Hamas leaders as they met with Qatari mediators for cease-fire discussions. While the order does not directly cite the strikes, it describes Qatar as a “steadfast ally” and highlights the country’s role as a mediator in regional conflicts.
A White House official said: “As the President stated, he has assured Qatar that attacks like the recent one will not happen again on their soil. On Monday, President Trump hosted a historic trilateral phone call between the Prime Ministers of Qatar and Israel, which helped to put Israel-Qatar relations on a positive track.”
The move mirrors NATO’s Article V principle, which considers an attack on any member as an attack on all and requires members to defend allies, potentially through military action.
President Trump has also strengthened U.S.-Qatar ties through major deals, securing more than $243.5 billion in agreements, including a $400 million 747 jet intended as a temporary replacement for Air Force One during his March visit to the Gulf state.
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