Is America still a credible defense partner for Qatar?
On 9 september 2025 a country which is major non-NATO ally of America attacked by Israel despite having world’s most expensive, well-equipped fighter jets and weaponry.
Most importantly America’s base ( Al Udeid ) which is like a headquarter for handling activities in middle east and nearby areas also made no effort to intercept Israeli jets despite of the fact that Qatar and America have series of defense and economic cooperation agreements .
Still Qatar singed another defense pact with US in which formal pledge made White house that “US 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.” that US will protect sovereignty of Qatar in case of foreign aggression, he also made Israeli PM Binjamin Netanyahu apologize to the rulers of Qatar over recent attacks.
Israel did claim that their aim was to target Hamas leadership residing in Qatar’s capital Doha but violating sovereignty of a country is actually a violation of International law.
A statement by Israeli Prime minister that they will attack Hamas leadership no matter where they are is clearly a reflection of their mindset, and it threatens the Middle Eastern countries which were taking part in negotiations for ending infamous and bloody Israel-Hamas war.
Here is statement that what I Israeli thinks about US-Qatar defense pact, Israeli newspaper Haaretz summed up what is likely to be the interpretation in Israel: “ Trump granted Impunity to Hamas leadership when residing in Qatar, despite Netanyahu’s warning that they are not safe wherever they go”.
In international relations states take measures to secure their interests and America acted here because of it’s interests.
One cannot deny the wealth and oil and gas reserves of rich Middle Eastern countries, Israel’s attack on Doha alerted Middle Eastern countries to reconsider there Foreign policies, one of it’s example we’ve seen in the form of Pak-Saudi defense pact, this measure urged US to grant security guarantees to these golden birds.
According to BBC, Firas maksad from Eurasia group said Trump’s move went “some way” to reassure Qatar and other Gulf allies, adding that he expected Saudi Arabia to seek a similar commitment. “I do think it’s very much in the US interest to keep them onside”.
When it comes to credibility of pact, It issued as an Executive order from the white house, which means it bypasses congress that means it could potentially be rewritten or ditched under future president.
This article is written by Abdullah who is the student of International Relations at the the department of Politics and IR, IIUI.
