WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has pledged to treat any armed attack on Qatar as a threat to the United States’ own security, according to a document published on Wednesday that says US forces could step in to defend the Middle Eastern nation. The executive order – which appears to significantly deepen the US commitment to its Middle East ally – comes after the Zionist entity last month attempted to kill leaders of Hamas with an airstrike on Doha.

Qatar’s foreign ministry said the country “welcomes the signing of the US president’s executive order recognizing attacks on its territory as a threat to American peace and security”, describing it as a milestone in strengthening defense ties and bilateral cooperation. The document was dated Monday, the day Trump hosted Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House and presented a proposal for ending the war in Gaza.

“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 said. “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 document said top US defense and intelligence officials will maintain contingency planning with Qatar to ensure a rapid response to any attacks. Last month, Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defense pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan. While the president can negotiate collective defense treaties like the one that created NATO, it requires Senate confirmation to become law.

Trump’s order goes beyond a 2022 order by his predecessor Joe Biden that designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, allowing increased military cooperation but falling short of promising to defend Qatar if attacked. There was no US military response when Qatar came under attack by Iran in June after a US strike on nuclear facilities in Iran.

The Trump administration in May officially accepted a luxury Boeing 747 jetliner as a gift from Qatar and the military is working to prepare it for use as a new Air Force One to transport President Donald Trump. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Doha after the Zionist strike, and said an enhanced defense cooperation agreement was being finalized with Qatar.

Netanyahu called Qatar’s prime minister from the White House on Monday, apologizing for strikes and promising not to do so again, the United States said. Netanyahu had until then been defiant since ordering the Sept 9 strikes. Qatar is a key US ally in the Gulf and hosts the largest US military base in the region at Al-Udeid, which also includes a regional headquarters for elements of US Central Command. – Agencies (Kuwait Times)