Qatar's US ambassador rebukes Congressman after Laura Loomer interview

Qatar’s ambassador to the US sent a rare, direct rebuke to Republican Congressman Randy Fine for Islamaphobic and anti-Qatar comments he made during an interview with far-right social media personality Laura Loomer. Fine, a Jewish-American lawmaker, is a staunch defender of Israel’s war on Gaza, which has been recognised as a genocide by the United Nations. Over 68,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war. Throughout Israel’s onslaught, Fine, who has a history of Islamophobic rhetoric, called for Israel to “nuke” the enclave and for Palestinians in Gaza to “starve away” (Read more at Middle East Eye).

‘They decided to try to engage me directly,’ congressman says of Qatari embassy

After he was interviewed on Jewish far-right commentator Laura Loomer’s show, Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) told JNS that he received a letter from the Qatari ambassador to Washington stating that his “observations about Qatar” are inaccurate. “You said that Qatar ‘funds most of the institutions that are damaging’ the United States, adding that Qatar is ‘responsible for’ protests on U.S. college campuses,” Meshal Al Thani wrote in the letter, dated Oct. 22 (Read more at JNS).

Trump thanks Qatar for mediation efforts as talks on Gaza plan continue

"We’ve done a lot together, especially in the last year,” Trump said on Air Force One. "What we’ve done is incredible – peace to the Middle East – and they were a very big factor in it, so I just want to thank you.” The comments came as several senior Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were in Israel this week to ensure the top US ally abides by the deal and to discuss the details of phase two of the US-led plan (Read more at Qatar-Tribune).

Egypt, Qatar, Turkey sign Gaza ceasefire document with Trump

US President Donald Trump hailed a “tremendous day for the Middle East” as he and regional leaders signed a declaration Monday meant to cement a ceasefire in Gaza, hours after Israel and Hamas exchanged hostages and prisoners. “The document is going to spell out rules and regulations and lots of other things”, Trump said (Read more at Arabnews).

US announces it will allow Qatar to build an Air Force facility in Idaho

“The location will host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance our combined training, increase the lethality, interoperability,” Hegseth said during a meeting with his Qatari counterpart Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at the Pentagon. “It’s just another example of our partnership. And I hope you know, Your Excellency, that you can count on us.” (Read more at CNN)

Many details to be worked out on Trump Gaza plan, Qatari official says

“At this stage, it is not appropriate to discuss what the obstacles are, we will wait for the results of the talks in the coming days,” Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson said. “Last night there was a detailed negotiation that lasted more than four hours, focusing mainly on identifying the obstacles to implementing the agreement. Many details still need consensus regarding the agreement’s implementation — including the international force, the release of hostages, the prisoner exchange, and the entry of humanitarian aid. Meetings will continue today, and there is no doubt that in this round of talks, all parties are pushing toward an agreement — but there is still a lot of work to do.” (Read more at Yahoo News)

Qatar Emir discusses with Trump the plan to end Gaza war

Sheikh Tamim reiterated Qatar's support for peace efforts and expressed confidence the countries backing the plan could reach a just settlement that guarantees regional security and stability and protects Palestinian rights, it added (Read more at MSN).

Trump: any attack on Qatar be treated as a threat to U.S. security

President Trump has signed an executive order saying that any armed attack against Qatar would be considered "a threat to the peace and security of the United States." "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," reads the executive order, which was dated Monday, Sept. 29 (Read more at CBS).

Why Trump’s pledge to defend Qatar is so extraordinary

The fact that Trump is doing this unilaterally is, in itself, remarkable. The Constitution explicitly gives the power over treaties to the Senate, and here’s the president bypassing Congress over something as serious as potentially committing the US military to war. Not only because Trump is asserting a power that is traditionally the Senate’s, but because he’s making a security guarantee on behalf of a country that many Republicans are quite suspicious of (Read more at CNN).

Irth Capital taps former US ambassador to Qatar as president and partner

Irth was co-founded by Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulla Al Thani, who had been director of the Americas and Business Development for the Qatar Investment Authority. In May, the U.S. military accepted a luxury Boeing 747 jetliner from Qatar to transport U.S. President Donald Trump. The current U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, also has business ties to Qatar (Read more at Yahoo Finance).

Rubio says US, Qatar nearing defense agreement after Israeli attack on Doha

“We have an enhanced defense cooperation agreement which we’ve been working on and we’re on the verge of finalizing,” he told reporters. Despite the U.S. being Israel’s closest ally, Qataris said they want to deepen military ties with the U.S. as a deterrent to Israeli military action (Read more at The Hill).

Axios: Trump did not say 'No' to Israel's attack on Qatar

Netanyahu called Trump around 1200 GMT Tuesday to brief him on the impending strike, Israeli officials with direct knowledge told the online outlet. Initial reports of explosions in Doha emerged 51 minutes later. The White House maintained it was informed after missiles were airborne, claiming Trump had no opportunity to object (Read more at TRT Global).

Trump says Qatar has to be 'a little bit politically correct' after Israel's attack

"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," he said. Asked by reporters what his message was to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the Israeli attack on Tuesday on Qatar that killed five members of the Palestinian group Hamas and a Qatari security official, he warned Israel to be careful in its attacks. "So, Israel and everybody else, we have to be careful. When we attack people, we have to be careful," he said (Read more at TRT World).

Rubio meets Qatar’s prime minister before visiting Israel

Rubio and Vice President JD Vance met Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the White House. Later Friday, Trump and special envoy Steve Witkoff had dinner with the Qatari premier in New York, where Trump went to commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks (Read more at AP).

US, Israel and the attack on Qatar

The US has long cloaked its engagements with the Arab world in the rhetoric of mutual interest and strategic partnership, yet Israel’s Sept. 9 airstrike on Doha — carried out by 15 jets targeting a residential building, and killing six, including a Qatari security officer and the son of a Hamas negotiator — has torn away that veil entirely (Read more at Arabnews).

US joins UN Security Council condemnation of Israeli strikes on Qatar

The statement - which did not directly name Israel - was backed by all 15 Security Council members, including the US, which traditionally blocks actions against its close ally (Read more at BBC).

Qatar PM meeting Trump after Israel’s deadly strike on Doha

Sheikh Mohammed, who is also the country’s foreign minister, has been engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity in the US since Israel’s attack on a Hamas meeting in Doha on Tuesday, which killed a Qatari security official and five Hamas members who were discussing a new deal proposed by Trump to end the Gaza war (Read more at Aljazeera).

Trump had heated phone call with Netanyahu over Israeli strike on Qatar

He conveyed his “deep frustration” at being caught by surprise by Israel's strike on Hamas representatives in Qatar. Trump said he “was angry to learn about the attack as it was occurring from the US military—rather than from Israel—and that it struck the territory of another US ally that was mediating negotiations on ending the Gaza war.” (Read more at Anadolu Ajansi)

Gaza ceasefire proposal 'almost identical' to US special envoy's, Qatar says

Qatar has been working with Egypt to mediate between the warring factions and broker a US-backed ceasefire deal for Gaza. A latest Gaza ceasefire proposal approved by Hamas is "almost identical" to that put forward by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, a spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry has said (Read more at Sky news).

Qatar PM secures Iran's agreement to US ceasefire proposal after call with Trump

The phone call came after US President Donald Trump told Qatar's emir that Israel had agreed to the ceasefire and asked for Doha's help persuading Tehran to also agree to the ceasefire deal, the official said (Read more at Daily Star).

US moved aircraft, military equipment from Qatar to Saudi Arabia before attack

The move suggests that the US believed Saudi Arabia would not be targeted by Iranian strikes and points to coordination with Iran to limit the fallout of the attack. The New York Times earlier reported that Iran provided advanced notice to Qatari officials to minimise casualties (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Iran says launched attack on US troops at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar

Loud explosions were also heard, although so far no injuries have been reported. Qatar’s Defence Ministry says its air defence systems successfully intercepted missiles targeting Al Udeid Air Base (Read more at Aljazeera).

US Senate votes against Democrats’ bid to block arms sales to Qatar, UAE

The Senate voted 56-39 against considering legislation that would have blocked the $1.9 billion sale of armed drones and associated equipment to Qatar. The vote was largely along party lines, with Trump’s fellow Republicans opposing the effort to stop the sale and most Democrats backing it (Read more at Arab Weekly).

How Turkey and Qatar are playing an outsized role in Trump's new Middle East

Turkey and Qatar are making themselves crucial to US President Donald Trump’s reshaping of the Middle East. Look no further than in Syria, where Qatari gas and cash, along with Turkish military might, are helping war-ravaged Syria back on its feet while Trump tries to fulfil his promise to pull the plug on western interventionists and “nation builders” (Read more at Middle East Eye).

The US alliance with Qatar

In this friendship, money talks and strategic interests walk. America’s embrace of Qatar has always been a strange fit, but recently, President Donald Trump has doubled down, transforming this unholy alliance into something approaching the profane (Read more at JNS).

Pentagon accepts luxury jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One

"The secretary of defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations," Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement. "The Department of Defense will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered for an aircraft used to transport the president of the United States," he added (Read more at ABC News).

Qatar’s QIA plans to at least double annual US investments over next decade

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund is planning to at least double its annual US investments in the next decade, its CEO said on Tuesday, after the fund has already pledged to invest $500 billion in the US economy over the next 10 years (Read more at Arabnews).

Qatar Becomes First Foreign Buyer of Raytheon FS-LIDS Counter-Drone

Raytheon has signed a $1-billion agreement with Qatar to deliver the Fixed Site – Low, Slow, Integrated Defeat System (FS-LIDS), making Doha the system’s first international customer. The agreement includes production work in the US, contributing to engineering and advanced manufacturing. The technology is designed to detect, track, and neutralize small, slow-moving drones (Read more at Defense Post).

US Senate Democratic leader proposes ban on foreign Air Force One planes

Schumer introduced the "Presidential Airlift Security Act" after news last week that President Donald Trump planned to accept a $400 million airplane from Qatar, which legal experts said raised a raft of questions about the scope of laws that relate to gifts from foreign governments and are intended to thwart corruption and improper influence (Read more at AOL).

Trump says Qatar will invest $10 billion in US airbase

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Qatar will invest $10 billion in coming years in the Al Udeid Air Base southwest of the country's capital Doha, the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East. In a speech to U.S. troops at the base during his tour of the Gulf, Trump also said Qatari defence purchases signed on Wednesday are worth $42 billion (Read more at Awani).

US, Qatar deals to generate $1.2 trillion in ’economic exchange’, White House says

The agreements include a $96 billion deal with Qatar Airways to buy up to 210 Boeing (NYSE:BA) 787 Dreamliner and 777X airplanes with GE Aerospace engines, the fact sheet said. They also include a statement of intent that could lead to $38 billion in investments at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base and other air defense and maritime security capabilities, it said (Read more at Investing).

Ben Shapiro, Laura Loomer lead rare MAGA backlash to Trump's Qatari jet

Top MAGA influencers Ben Shapiro, Laura Loomer and Mark Levin broke sharply with President Trump Monday over his decision to accept a $400 million private jet from the Qatari government. The revolt marks one of the few times since Trump's return to power that key voices in his base have publicly questioned his judgment — revealing cracks in a MAGA coalition built on unwavering loyalty (Read more at Axios).

Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept Qatari plane

Despite concerns raised over the president accepting the $400m gift, Mr Trump told reporters on Monday: "I think it's a great gesture from Qatar." The jet is currently sitting at San Antonio International Airport. It is the same plane the US leader toured at Palm Beach International Airport on 15 February (Read more at Skynews).

What to know about Trump's history with Qatar, which wants to gift him a plane

Trump's orbit during his first and second administration featured advisers with ties to Qatar. For example, Trump picked Pam Bondi for attorney general, who reportedly made more than $100,000 a month lobbying for Qatar. Son-in-law Jared Kushner's private equity firm, which he formed after leaving the first Trump White House, has taken money from wealth funds in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE (Read more at Axios).

Qatar calls reports of pending jet gift to Trump inaccurate

The president might end up with a luxury jumbo jet, but it won’t happen this week. ABC News reported earlier Sunday that a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet would become available for President Donald Trump as Air Force One and then donated to his presidential library foundation so he could use it after leaving office. The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense, but the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made (Read more at Politico).

Qatar leads Syria search for bodies of US hostages killed by ISIL

Qatar’s International Search and Rescue Group began the search on Wednesday, with the help of several US nationals who wished to remain anonymous. So far, three unidentified bodies have been found by the group, according to the sources. The mission’s focus was on locating the body of aid worker Peter Kassig, who was beheaded by ISIL in 2014 in Dabiq, northern Syria (Read more at Aljazeera).

Qatari financing of Syrian salaries gets US go-ahead

Qatar, which is among Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's strongest international backers, had been reluctant to act without the blessing of Washington, which imposed sanctions when ousted leader Bashar al-Assad was in power. Two people briefed on the matter told Reuters that Qatar had been informed about the U.S. greenlight and said the U.S. Treasury Department's office of Foreign Assets Control was expected to imminently provide a letter confirming the initiative was exempt from U.S. sanctions (Read more at Global Banking and Finance).

Trump's first real estate project in Qatar

The Trump International Golf Course and Trump Villas will be part of the Simaisma beachside development 40 minutes north of the Qatari capital Doha. The $5.5 billion Simaisma development, led by Qatari Diar, is designed as a 7 km-long mega entertainment resort district, anchored by an 18-hole golf course and a Land of Legends theme park (Read more at AOL).

US Approves $1.96B Drone Sale to Qatar

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement. The sale “will improve Qatar’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing timely intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, target acquisition, counter-land, and counter-surface sea capabilities for its security and defense,” DSCA said (Read more at Defense Post).

White House envoy to travel to Doha to push for new Gaza deal

White House envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Doha on Tuesday evening in an effort to broker a new hostage-release and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. The talks would be the first since President Trump took office and since the original agreement between Israel and Hamas that established a 42-day ceasefire in Gaza (Read more at Axios)

US sanctions hold up Qatari support for Syria

Qatar is holding off providing Syria's new rulers with funds to increase public sector pay due to uncertainty over whether the transfers would breach US sanctions. While the previous US administration issued a sanctions exemption on January 6 to allow transactions with Syria's governing institutions for six months, Qatar does not see this as enough to cover payments it would need to make via the central bank to finance the salary increase (Read more at Business Standard).

Qatar and US discuss joint Gaza mediation efforts

Qatar's prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, took part in a phone call on Tuesday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the continuation of their joint mediation efforts in Gaza, the Qatari foreign ministry said. The men expressed hope that a ceasefire deal reaches its second phase and turns into a permanent ceasefire (Read more at Reuters).

Trump World Has Trust Issues With Qatar

To put it very simply, Qatar is willing to be (almost) everyone’s friend. It hosts Hamas and Taliban representatives along with a U.S. embassy and a U.S. military base, while even Israeli officials stop by now and then. Qatar’s open-door policy has made it a go-to mediator in many of the world’s conflicts; indeed, mediation is a pillar of Qatar’s foreign policy, giving it outsized influence. But that approach also has left Qatar open to questions in the U.S., Israel and beyond about whether it is truly a friend to anyone. Some argue the U.S. shouldn’t depend on Qatar as a partner or an intermediary (Read more at Politico).

Trump’s Opportunity to Redefine U.S.-Qatar Relations

The initial diplomatic signals from President-elect Trump’s team suggest a shift, with reports indicating a call for Qatar to reinstate Hamas leaders to Doha. This starkly contrasts with recent moves by the Biden administration, which pressured Qatar to distance itself from Hamas. The Trump administration must address Qatar’s international positioning. As host of the 2025 U.N. anti-corruption summit, Qatar has portrayed itself as a global leader in combating corruption. The administration should challenge this narrative by ensuring accountability for Doha’s domestic and international actions. For Trump, the path forward is clear: Qatar must earn its privileges as a U.S. ally. A failure to reset the relationship would allow Qatar to continue benefiting from U.S. trust while undermining shared values and priorities (Read more at ASEAN News).

CIA chief heads to Qatar amid renewed Gaza ceasefire hopes

Burns is due to meet Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in Doha (Read more at Dohanews).

No concerns over Trump vow to lift LNG exports cap: Qatar minister

Asked about the impact of Trump’s return to the White House on Qatar-US relations, particularly in energy, Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi said oil and gas projects were multi-decade plans and “survive governments”, but later added he thought Trump was “good for business” (Read more at Business Recorder).

Qatar PM sees 'momentum' on Gaza talks after US election

The Gulf emirate, along with the United States and Egypt, had been involved in months of unsuccessful negotiations for a Gaza truce and hostage release. But in November, Doha announced it had put its mediation on hold, saying it would resume when Hamas and Israel showed "willingness and seriousness". "We have sensed, after the election, that the momentum is coming back," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani told the Doha Forum for political dialogue (Read more at France24).

Qatari Amir meets US Secretary of State

The meeting focused on strengthening the strategic relations between Qatar and the United States, as well as discussing the latest regional and international developments of mutual concern, particularly the situation in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian territories, and Lebanon (Read more at Qatar Tribune).

Qatar LNG sales to key Asian markets confronted by US, UAE rivalry

Qatar was once the top LNG supplier to Japan and South Korea, but buyers are showing preference for supplies from the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. These suppliers all offer shorter-term contracts and unlike Qatar do not restrict the cargoes' final destination. This gives buyers flexibility to sell cargoes elsewhere in the future if they no longer need the cargoes. US sellers, ADNOC and Oman generally offer LNG volumes on a free-on-board (FOB) basis, which allows buyers to resell cargoes. Deals are usually linked to US natural gas prices at the Henry Hub benchmark, which tend to be cheaper than contracts linked to oil (Read more at Business Standard).

Gulf states lobby US to stop Israel from bombing Iran's oil sites

As part of their attempts to avoid being caught in the crossfire, Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar are also refusing to let Israel fly over their airspace for any attack on Iran and have conveyed this to Washington. The moves by the Gulf states come after a diplomatic push by Tehran to persuade its Gulf neighbors to use their influence with Washington amid rising concerns Israel could target Iran's oil production facilities (Read more at Daily Sabah).

US Admits Qatar Into Visa Waiver Program

It allows visa-free travel by Qatari citizens for up to 90 days. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State said in a statement that Qatar is the first Gulf country to be admitted to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, commending Doha for meeting the strict security requirements to join (Read more at Aljazeera).

Trump Says He Met With Qatari Leaders in Florida

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Sunday said he had met with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at his Florida resort (Read more at Dunyanews).

U.S., Qatar and Egypt invite Israel and Hamas for summit to finalize Gaza deal

The three leaders said there is a framework agreement on the table and only its implementation details need to be finalized. They have called on the two sides to resume urgent talks on Thursday, August 15 in (Doha or Cairo) to fill all remaining gaps and begin implementing the agreement without any delay (Read more at Axios).

US demands Qatar expel Hamas if group rejects Israeli truce deal

Analysts say expelling Hamas leaders from Qatar will not help Israel because the Hamas leadership in Gaza is making the decisions over a possible ceasefire. Doha has hosted Hamas’ political leadership at the US’ request since 2012 and provided billions in cash to the Hamas authorities in recent years with the approval of the US and Israel (Read more at The Cradle).

Qatar rejects US claim that it pays Hamas $30m per month since 2018

Qatar’s embassy in Washington said t it has provided assistance to Gaza in two ways with the “full coordination” of the Israeli government. The first is a Qatar-funded fuel purchasing scheme to generate electricity in Gaza, and the second is a project in partnership with the World Food Programme that provides “$100 per month to the poorest families in Gaza”. (Read more at Aljazeera)

Biden asks Egypt, Qatar to press Hamas to agree to hostage deal

CIA director is to travel to Cairo this weekend for talks with the head of Israel's Mossad and top Qatari and Egyptian officials to break the deadlock in negotiations. The current proposal could lead to a 6-week ceasefire and the release of 40 hostages — female soldiers and other women, men over the age of 50 and in critical medical conditions. In return, Israel would release roughly 700 Palestinian prisoners, including about 100 who are serving life sentences for killing Israelis (Read more at Axios).

CIA director in Egypt, Qatar, Israel in last push for pre-Ramadan ceasefire

William Burns secretly arrived in Egypt yesterday and headed to Doha today for a meeting with Qatar’s prime minister. He will next travel to Israel (Read more at Aljazeera).