Qatar has been a key mediator between the U.S. and Israel and Hamas over the war. “The United States shall regard 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. Trump’s order goes beyond a 2022 order by his predecessor Joe Biden that designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, allowing increased military cooperation but falling short of promising to defend Qatar if attacked. There was no U.S. military response when Qatar came under attack by Iran in June after a U.S. strike on nuclear facilities in Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Doha after the Israeli strike, and said an enhanced defense cooperation agreement was being finalized with Qatar.