On September 29, Trump signed an executive order that committed the United States to the defense of Qatar.
“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,” the order says.
“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.”
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This order was signed in light of a surprise Israeli attack in Qatar that was targeted against Hamas leadership. In an apparent snub to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the order was signed during his visit to Washington D.C.
The scope of the security guarantee is in question, as treaties and similar agreements must be ratified by the United States Senate.
It is not unusual for American presidents to pursue closer ties with Qatar. The country hosts American assets in the Al Udeid Air Base, and former President Joe Biden declared Qatar to be a major non-NATO ally.
However, Trump’s ties to Qatar have blurred the lines between the personal and the political. Using its vast wealth and lack of accountability toward its own people, Qatar effectively bribed Trump with a $400 million jet. The Trump Organization and Qatari Diar, a real estate company established by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, made deals during Trump’s presidency. Qatar also bailed out Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner after his haphazard purchase of 666 Fifth Avenue.
