Trump Pledges Security Assurance to Qatar: "Military Action If Necessary"

President Donald Trump of the United States has pledged that the United States will step in to defend Qatar, a key Middle Eastern ally, if it comes under attack.

In an executive order signed on September 29 (local time), President Trump stated, "It is the policy of the United States to ensure the security and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar against external aggression."

Donald Trump, President of the United States. Photo by Xinhua News Agency

Qatar is one of the United States' major allies in the Middle East and hosts the largest U.S. military base in the region. The United States will regard any armed attack on Qatar's territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure as a threat to U.S. peace and security.

President Trump instructed that, in the event of an attack on Qatar, the United States should "take all lawful and appropriate measures, including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military actions, to protect the interests of the United States and Qatar and to restore peace and stability."

CNN analyzed that this security assurance, which considers an attack on Qatar as a threat to the United States, is similar to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which stipulates the collective defense obligations among member states. Although Qatar is not a NATO member, the previous Joe Biden administration designated Qatar as a Major Non-NATO Ally in 2022.

However, unlike the NATO treaty, which requires ratification by the U.S. Senate and carries legal force, the security assurance for Qatar was made through President Trump's executive order. Therefore, it cannot be guaranteed with 100% certainty that this commitment will be carried over to the next U.S. administration.

CNN pointed out that while the U.S. Constitution explicitly grants the Senate the authority to ratify treaties, it is remarkable that President Trump made such a significant commitment-akin to deploying U.S. troops to war-unilaterally, bypassing Congress.

Additionally, CNN noted that Qatar is a country distrusted by several Republican figures. For years, Republicans have voiced concerns over Qatar's human rights record and its ties to terrorist organizations. There have also been criticisms that it was inappropriate for President Trump to receive aircraft worth $400 million as a gift from Qatar.

The New York Times highlighted that President Trump signed this executive order after Israel conducted an airstrike on a building in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on September 9, targeting the Hamas leadership residing there. The analysis suggests that President Trump may have provided this security assurance to reassure Qatar that such attacks would not happen again.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.