President Donald Trump has issued an executive order in which the United States pledges to guarantee Qatar's security, including retaliatory military action, if the country is attacked again, following unprecedented Israeli airstrikes on the country last month that sparked regional and global outrage.
In his latest executive order, Trump said the US and Qatar are "bound by close cooperation, shared interests, and the close relationship between our armed forces."
The US president added that Qatar was "a steadfast ally in the pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity" and had supported Washington in mediating regional and global conflicts.
"In recognition of this history and in light of the ongoing threats to the State of Qatar posed by foreign aggression, it is the policy of the United States to guarantee the security and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar against external attack," he said.
"The United States will consider any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure of the State of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States," the order said.
Following the Israeli attacks on Doha on September 9, Washington sought to repair the damage done to diplomatic relations with Qatar, while also demonstrating its continued unwavering support for its ally Israel. The Gulf nation had called Israel's actions "cowardly and treacherous."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in Qatar on September 16 for talks, a week after the attack and a day after Arab and Islamic leaders expressed solidarity with Qatar during an emergency summit in Doha.