Trump Issues Nonbinding U.S. Security Pledge for Qatar

President Donald Trump signed an executive order pledging to treat any armed attack on Qatar’s territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure as a threat to U.S. peace and security and to take “all lawful and appropriate measures — including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military” action to defend it. The pledge follows Israeli strikes in Doha that targeted Hamas leaders and came the same day Trump unveiled a 20-point Gaza peace plan and held an Oval Office exchange in which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed “deep regret” to Qatar. The move has been described as an unprecedented, NATO-like security guarantee for a key Gulf partner that hosts al-Udeid Air Base and Qatar’s role as regional mediator and home to Hamas’s political office. U.S. officials say it strengthens bilateral security ties and directs military and intelligence leaders to maintain joint contingency planning, but the order is not legally binding and bypasses Senate ratification, prompting debate over executive authority. Qatar welcomed the pledge as reinforcing the defense partnership, while analysts warn it could stabilize or further complicate Gulf dynamics and it has drawn criticism from some pro-Israel and MAGA voices.