Marco Rubio pledges US support for Qatar's security as he visits Doha after Israeli attack

US Secretary of State holds talks Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim after travelling from Israel

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to assure Qatar of Washington's support for its security and sovereignty during a brief visit to Doha on Tuesday. He arrived a week after Israel launched an air strike against Hamas leaders in the city, sparking anger across the Gulf.

Mr Rubio met Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim and the country's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, who is also Foreign Minister, and flew out after talks that lasted less than an hour.

The Qatari royal court said they discussed "strategic relations" between the US and the Gulf state, especially in the defence sector. As well as the attack on Doha, the meeting addressed "the future of joint diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip"- which have been called into question by Israel's strike.

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State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said Mr Rubio "reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Qatar, and thanked Qatar for its efforts to end the war in Gaza and bring all hostages home". Mr Rubio also "reiterated America's strong support for Qatar's security and sovereignty", Mr Pigott added.

Qatar appreciates US support for its mediation efforts, Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said. "This attack, of course, expedited the need for renewed strategic defence agreements between us and the US," he added.

Mr Rubio travelled to the Qatari capital from Israel, where he expressed “unwavering support” for the country's pursuit of Hamas, despite the attack on Doha drawing international condemnation. Arab and Islamic countries warned Israel's actions were a threat to Middle East peace at an emergency summit

Qatar is a US ally in the Gulf and hosts the largest American airbase in the Middle East. While Washington says its alliance with Israel is ironclad, the US is seeking to repair the damage done to its relationship with Gulf states by the attack on Doha.

Before boarding a plane to Doha, Mr Rubio said Qatar and the US were close to finalising an enhanced defence co-operation deal. He said the US would ask Qatar to continue its work mediating between Israel and Hamas in an attempt to end the Gaza war.

Mr Rubio, who landed in Doha as Israel increased its offensive in Gaza, said he was pessimistic about the prospects of a ceasefire, but that Qatar was in a unique position to help.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at Hamad International Airport in Doha. AP

“They have to decide if they want to do that after last week or not, but we want them to know that if there's any country in the world that could help end this through a negotiation, it's Qatar,” he said.

Qatar's relationship with the US has grown stronger under US President Donald Trump. In May, the US accepted the gift of a luxury airliner from Doha for the President.

But few countries are closer to the US than Israel, which has enjoyed robust support from Washington despite international outcry over its military campaign in Gaza.

Hamas, which triggered the war in October 2023 with its attack on southern Israel, has had a political bureau in Doha since 2012.

Both the US and Israel previously viewed Qatar, with its close relationship with Washington, as a better place to keep an eye on Hamas and prevent the group from basing itself in Iran, which openly backs Hamas.

But after Israel's strike on Doha last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Qatar to expel the militants. “I say to Qatar and all nations who harbour terrorists, you either expel them or you bring them to justice. Because if you don't, we will,” he said.