Trump Pledges to Defend Qatar Against ‘Any Attack’

President Trump signed on Monday an executive order to provide Qatar a U.S. security guarantee with conditions similar to NATO's Article 5, according to the text of the order published by the White House.

This is an unprecedented security agreement between the U.S. and an Arab country. It says the U.S. will treat any "armed attack" on the country "as a threat to the peace and security of the United States" and respond accordingly.

The upgraded U.S. security guarantee is part of the "compensation" to Qatar for the failed Israeli strike against Hamas officials in Doha three weeks ago.

"[I]n light of the continuing threats to the State of Qatar posed by foreign aggression, it is the policy of the United States to guarantee the security and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar against external attack".

In the event of a future attack against Qatar, "the United States shall take all lawful and appropriate measures — including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military — to defend the interests of the United States and of the State of Qatar and to restore peace and stability."

U.S. military and intelligence leaders "shall maintain joint contingency planning with the State of Qatar to ensure a rapid and coordinated response to any foreign aggression against the State of Qatar," it says.