Amir Daftari
President Donald Trump is confronting a complex diplomatic conundrum following Israel's unprecedented airstrike this month on Qatar's capital of Doha to target Hamas leaders attending U.S.-brokered ceasefire talks.
The September 9 attack has strained the U.S.'s relations with both Israel and Qatar, two key allies in the Middle East, complicating Trump's foreign policy in the region.
Newsweek has reached out the U.S. State Department for comment.
Why It Matters
The Israeli strike on Qatar has disrupted U.S. efforts to mediate peace and weakened Qatar's role as a regional mediator, raising questions about the future of the Abraham Accords—agreements brokered by the Trump administration that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations.
Beyond the diplomatic fallout, the attack also puts U.S.-Qatar trade and investment at risk while casting uncertainty over Al Udeid Air Base, America's largest military installation in the Middle East. At the same time, Israel remains one of Washington's closest strategic allies, benefiting from billions in annual military aid and extensive intelligence cooperation.
The incident underscores how regional instability threatens both economic and security interests, complicating Trump's balancing act between the two U.S. allies.
Earlier this year, Qatar solidified its position as a key U.S. economic partner. During his visit to Doha in May, Trump announced an "economic exchange" valued at at least $1.2 trillion.
A White House fact sheet, however, confirmed deals totaling $243 billion, including a $96 billion agreement for Qatar Airways to purchase up to 210 passenger jets from Boeing. Additionally, Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority, pledged $500 billion in further investments in the U.S. economy over the next decade, signaling a long-term commitment to American markets.
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