DOHA, Qatar – In a brief diplomatic encounter on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Qatar’s leadership during a refueling stop at the Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East.
The meeting took place aboard the presidential aircraft, Air Force One, and included the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the country’s Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. President Trump was en route to Malaysia to begin a multi-day tour of Asia.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, President Trump highlighted Qatar’s critical role as a mediator in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. He credited both the Emir and the Prime Minister with playing a “very important role” in negotiations to establish and maintain a fragile ceasefire.
In a notable gesture, President Trump specifically referred to Prime Minister Abdulrahman Al Thani as his “friend of the world.” The talks were also attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who joined the meeting following his own diplomatic mission in Israel as part of a broader Washington offensive in the region.
Qatar’s Key Mediating Role
Since the outbreak of the latest war in Gaza in 2023, Qatar has emerged as a pivotal mediator in the indirect talks between Israel and Hamas. Its unique position, maintaining open channels with both sides, has made it an indispensable actor in the conflict. Alongside Egypt, the United States, and Turkey, Qatar is a key guarantor of the current peace plan, which has sustained a tenuous, though often violated, ceasefire since October 10th.
This high-level, impromptu meeting underscores the Trump administration’s continued reliance on Qatari diplomacy to manage one of the world’s most intractable conflicts, even as the President embarks on a strategic pivot to Asia.
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