Qatar said that last week’s Israeli airstrike on Doha underscores the urgency of updating its strategic defense agreement with the United States.
“Yes, this attack accelerates the need for an updated strategic defense agreement between the US and Qatar,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told reporters in Doha. “This is not new in itself, but rather an acceleration of the process.”
Qatar and the US first signed a defense cooperation agreement in June 1992.
Earlier Tuesday, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who traveled to Doha following his visit to Israel. The Emiri Diwan said the meeting focused on bilateral relations and ways to expand cooperation, particularly in defense.
Rubio reaffirmed Washington’s stance, writing on X that the two sides “reaffirmed the enduring US-Qatar security partnership and our shared commitment to a safer, more stable region.” He also thanked Qatar “for its ongoing mediation efforts to broker a peace deal between Israel and Hamas and to bring the hostages home.”
Before arriving in Doha, Rubio said the two countries were close to finalizing an enhanced defense cooperation agreement.
His visit came a day after an emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha, where participants condemned Israel’s attack and expressed support for Qatar.
Qatar has been mediating efforts to end Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 65,000 people since October 2023.