Any attack on Qatar to be regarded as threat to US: Trump signs executive order

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order pledging to safeguard Qatar’s security, even committing to military intervention if the Gulf nation comes under attack.

According to the order, “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.”

It further stated: “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, dated September 29 but made public on Wednesday, was signed nearly three weeks after Israel carried out an air strike in Qatar that killed several senior Hamas negotiators along with a Qatari security official.

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That strike drew outrage in both Doha and Washington, fueling doubts about Washington’s ability to protect its Gulf partner. The new order is widely seen as an effort to reassure Qatari leaders that Washington’s commitment to their security remains firm.

Qatar hosts the largest American military base in the Middle East and has long relied on the United States as a cornerstone of its defense strategy. For Doha, the Israeli attack was particularly jarring given Israel’s close ties to Washington.

In a rare move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an apology to Qatar earlier this week for the strike.