Newsletters
President Donald Trump made an appearance alongside Qatari leaders Saturday during a refueling stop in Doha, praising the Gulf state as a key partner in Middle East peace efforts as he traveled to Malaysia for a regional summit.
Speaking aboard Air Force One with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Trump highlighted Qatar's role in recent diplomatic developments in the region.
"It is an honor. We have a great ally. He's a great ally. They are a great ally. And these are two great men," Trump said. "I want to just say we express our thanks, and you have a safe Middle East right there, and you're gonna keep it that way for a long time."
The president was en route to the 47th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations when he invited the Qatari leaders aboard the aircraft during the technical stop.
"I was thinking, we're landing here, we're going to fuel up, and it's such an honor to have you on the plane," Trump said.
Trump credited Qatar with playing a significant role in his administration's Middle East peace initiatives. "What we've done is incredible. Peace to the Middle East and they were a very big factor in this and I just want to thank (them)," he said, adding that the U.S. and Qatar have done "a lot together, especially in the last year."
The remarks come after the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire took effect Oct. 10 under Trump's 20-point plan. The initial phase involves the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The broader plan calls for Gaza's reconstruction and establishing a new governing structure without Hamas involvement.
Since Oct. 2023, more than 68,500 people, mostly civilians, have been killed and over 170,300 injured in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Qatar has historically served as a mediator in Middle East conflicts and hosts the largest U.S. military base in the region at Al Udeid Air Base.
1 min read
3 min read
