Qatar’s emir, US diplomat Rubio eye defence ties in Doha after Israeli strikes

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani discussed defence cooperation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on September 16, the Qatari foreign ministry said, following last week’s Israeli strikes targeting Hamas political leaders in Doha.

Rubio met with Sheikh Tamim in his office, shaking hands before entering closed-door talks with the emir and his aides. The visit comes a week after Israeli air strikes hit Hamas leaders in the emirate, Caliber.Az reports via Al Arabiya. 

Arriving in Qatar as Israel carried out major new strikes in Gaza, Rubio expressed skepticism about the prospects for a ceasefire but emphasised Qatar’s potential role in ending the conflict.

“We’re going to ask Qatar to continue to do what they’ve done, and we appreciate very much, and that is, play a constructive role in trying to bring this to an end,” Rubio told reporters as he flew out of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport to Doha.

“Obviously 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 added.

Rubio’s visit followed an Arab-Islamic summit in Doha on September 15, where leaders condemned Israel for the strikes, which have strained relations between Gulf Arab states and the United States. At the summit, the head of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council urged Washington to “use its leverage and influence” to rein in Israel.

Despite the Israeli military action, Rubio said the United States would work with Qatar to finalise a defence agreement soon. President Donald Trump, speaking in Washington, added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “won’t be hitting” Qatar again.

By Sabina Mammadli