Trump Hails Ties with Qatar, Calls It "Great Ally"

(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump has praised Qatar as a vital partner, describing the Gulf nation as a “great ally.” Speaking to reporters on his return to the White House from Morristown, New Jersey, he acknowledged the complexities Qatar faces due to its location in the heart of regional conflicts. "Qatar has been a great ally. They also lead a very difficult life because they're right in the middle of everything. So they have to be a little bit politically correct in their terms. But I will tell you, they've been a great ally for the United States,” Trump stated.

When asked about his message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Israeli airstrikes on Qatar earlier this week, which killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security official, Trump issued a cautious warning. "So Israel and everybody else, we have to be careful. When we attack people, we have to be careful,” he emphasized.

On Friday, Trump met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in New York, where the country's deputy chief of mission described the dinner as “great.” This diplomatic engagement followed Tuesday’s Israeli airstrikes targeting top Hamas figures in Doha, which have drawn widespread condemnation from across the Middle East and internationally.

Trump also voiced his discontent with Israel’s actions, labeling them as a unilateral move that failed to serve the interests of either the United States or Israel. The Hamas leaders targeted in the strikes were reportedly in discussions about a new U.S.-backed proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Israeli forces have killed nearly 65,000 people since October 2023.

Qatar, which has played a central role in mediating peace talks, remains a key player in efforts to broker an end to the war.

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